Protect Your Lungs by Taking Care of Your Gums

April 6, 2011 - PRLog -- So, as it turns out brush, flossing and rinsing regularly could help your...lungs! A new study says that maintaining good dental health -- especially those gums -- may contribute to a healthy respiratory system. That dose of health news comes courtesy of the "Journal of Periodontology."

Doctor's advice for your lungs probably doesn't touch upon this subject -- cleaning your gums -- so we present it here for you. Researchers found that gum disease may increase the risk for respiratory infections, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and pneumonia. These infections, which are caused when bacteria from the upper throat are inhaled into the lower respiratory tract, can be severely debilitating. They are also leading causes of death in the U.S.

The study included 200 participants between the ages of 20 and 60. Half were hospitalized patients with a respiratory disease such as pneumonia, COPD, or acute bronchitis, and the other half were healthy control subjects with no history of respiratory disease. Each participant underwent an oral evaluation to measure the health of their gums.

Researchers discovered that patients with lung diseases had worse gum health than the control group. They suspect that the presence of oral pathogens (bacteria, etc.) linked with periodontal disease may increase a patient's risk of developing or making respiratory disease worse. More studies will be needed to support that idea. But it does allude to a relatively simple way for people who are at higher risk of lung diseases (such as smokers) to help ward off such illness: keeping good hygiene.

Pulmonary, or lung, diseases can be severely disabling and debilitating. This study says that you can work with your dentist to perhaps prevent or diminish the progression of harmful diseases such as pneumonia or COPD. It further illuminates the importance of how good periodontal health helps keep the whole body healthy.

Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the gum tissue and other structures supporting the teeth. There is research out there that has found it linked with diabetes, heart disease, and rheumatoid arthritis.

So keep good oral health by daily tooth brushing and flossing, and seeing the dentist every year. Ensure you focus on the prevention of gum disease (and, if need be, diagnosis and treatment as well).

And remember, you can always get more natural health advice, the latest alternative health breakthroughs and news, plus information about nutrition, alternative remedies and cures and doctors health advice, all free when you sign up for the Doctors Health Press e-Bulletin. Visit http://www.doctorshealthpress.com now to find out how to start your free subscription.

The Snack That Makes You Smarter & 11 Other Brain-Boosting Super Foods
FREE report reveals the foods that could help you maintain your healthy brain function and also could help you remember names and places easier. It will be like your mind has turned back the clock! Click here to get your FREE report.
http://www.doctorshealthpress.com/ads/dhpart/

# # #

Doctors Health Press has been providing thousands of readers with accurate and up-to-date free health advice and natural health breakthroughs through newsletters and health reports all geared to helping you live a longer, healthier and happier life.