Did You Know: Brushing Your Teeth Will Lower Your Risk of Pneumonia by 30%

The Veterans Administration Sends Alert to Vets

Brushing TeethPneumonia is a serious infection of the lungs, in which oxygen has trouble reaching your blood, causing your body’s cells to not work properly. A person with pneumonia might find it hard to breath, and most patients with pneumonia experience fever, chills, coughs, chest pains and shortness of breath.

In addition to proper oral hygiene, it is also recommended that most adults 65 or older get vaccinated to protect against pneumonia pneumococcal disease. [1,2]

References:

  1. VA.gov – Healthy Teeth, Healthy You!
  2. Advisory Board, February 26, 2018 – Sutter Medical Center cut pneumonia by 70%. The key? 50,000 toothbrushes.