Lung infections and periodontal diease

The news is in and the American Academy of Periodontology found that individuals who have periodontal disease have a higher increase in respiratory infections. Yep, that’s right says Dr. Rice and her team at Rice Periodontics and Implant Surgery, “the healthier the gums, the less likely you are to have a lung infection.” If you have periodontal disease you are unfortunately at a higher risk for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other lung diseases.

COPD, as it is called, effects your airways. You may have trouble breathing, need oxygen and/or have coughing fits where you feel you are unable to catch your breath. When you breathe in, air enters your airway and then when you breath out, it leaves the airway. “When an individual has COPD the lungs are impacted by either the elasticity in the airways with the air sacs being decreased, or when the walls in the air sacs are destroyed. When this happens, the walls of the airways can become thick with mucus,” says Dr. Denine Rice. All of these factors decrease your success of breathing.

The study, conducted by the American Academy of Periodontology, found that patients with lung diseases had a decrease in overall periodontal health. By taking care of your oral health, you also improve your overall health in general. 

See Dr. Rice and her team today for an appointment.