The simple act of brushing and flossing your teeth may help keep lung ailments in check. Researchers believe that as gums recede due to poor oral health, respiratory illnesses like bronchitis and emphysema worsen.

If you already have lung disease, taking care of your teeth and gums is especially important.

It's possible that improved oral health is one factor that may help prevent progression of this disease, which is responsible for 2.2 million deaths a year worldwide.

The data included results of physical examinations that measured lung function and ascertained overall oral health including gum disease, gum recession and the number of cavities.

Bacteria in the mouth from poor oral hygiene likely are to blame.

Accumulation of disease-causing organisms associated with gum disease may increase the risk for serious lower-respiratory-tract infection in susceptible subjects.

It is possible that bacteria that normally stick to teeth are sloughed into the saliva and may be breathed into the upper airways, changing the environment and paving the way for other germs to infect the lower airways. Oral conditions likely work with other factors, such as smoking, environmental pollutants, allergies and genetics to make existing lung problems worse.

The findings of the present analysis support recently published reports that suggest an association between periodontal disease and pulmonary disease.

Journal of Periodontology 2001;72:50-56

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

THE Classic of Natural Medicine: Read More & Order Dental health is one of the keys to staying healthy. Most dentists, like most physicians, really do not understand the foundation of true health. For a list of dentists that are more likely to understand some of the basics you can use the link on the bottom of my home page www.mercola.com. The amazing thing about dental health though, is that if you are raised on a diet free of processed foods, grains and sugars, you will likely avoid dental decay and secondary periodontal problems. The classic illustration of this fact is Dr. Weston Price's book Nutrition and Physical Degeneration. The fact that researchers find that poor dental health is associated with lung disease really is an artifact of the underlying disorder that causes both diseases, eating too many sugars and grains. It is also important to remember that fluoridating the water using toxic waste is NOT going to help anyone achieve optimal oral health. For more information on fluoride, try the Fluoride Action Network's website. Related Articles: Gum Disease Ups Risk of Premature Birth Gum Disease May Boost Stroke Risk The Dangers of Root Canals