Taking a Look at the Effect of Oral Health on Respiratory Diseases

Asthma Awareness Month is recognized every year in May. What many people may not realize is that respiratory diseases such as asthma, COPD and even pneumonia can be affected by poor oral hygiene. That’s why it’s important to keep up with routine visits to your dentist to ensure that your smile is healthy.

Lungs that are affected by respiratory diseases are often not as strong when it comes to defending against harmful intruders. That means that bad bacteria from the mouth — such as gum disease or plaque — has an increased chance of traveling down into the lungs and causing more infections. This bacteria can also worsen the inflammation from diseases such as asthma and COPD. This leads to problems that include more frequent symptoms or even lung damage, which starts to affect your quality of life.

How can I avoid these problems?

Keeping a healthy smile can help decrease your chance of experiencing these problems, but it’s important to know what steps you need to take:

• Keep up with your routine dental visits by seeing your dentist biannually.
• Make sure to brush twice a day — once in the morning and once at night.
• Incorporate flossing into your routine once a day. Buying a water flosser can make it more convenient for you. 
• Voice any concerns you have about your oral health with your dentist so a solution can be found sooner rather than later. 

If you are someone with a respiratory disease who has concerns about your oral health or just wants to stay on top of it, it’s important to communicate these things with your dentist so they can be aware of your situation. Schedule an appointment today to come see us!