Hospitalised patients have an increased risk of developing pneumonia. Pneumonia occurs when bacteria in the mouth accidentally enter the lungs through a patient’s airways and infect it. Patients with a weakened immune system are prone to develop hospital-acquired pneumonia.
According to a US study published in JAMA Internal Medicine, the simple act of daily brushing during hospital stays can significantly reduce the risk of developing the potentially life-threatening infection.
Daily brushing can reduce the amount of bacteria in the mouth which can lower the risk of hospital-acquired pneumonia.
Researchers analysed results from 15 clinical trials around the world involving 2,786 patients and found that regular brushing was associated with significantly lower risks of hospital-acquired pneumonia and ICU deaths, especially among patients receiving mechanical ventilation. Additionally, brushing was also linked to fewer days spent on a mechanical ventilator and shorter stay in the ICU.
“It’s rare in the world of hospital preventative medicine to find something like this that is both effective and cheap. Instead of a new device or drug, our study indicates that something as simple as brushing teeth can make a big difference,” the study noted.
