Poor Oral Health Linked To COPD

February 9, 2010 by admin
Filed under: Dental Health, Periodontal disease 

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a progressive disease making breathing difficult.    It is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States.  According to the National Institutes of Health, more than 12 million people are currently diagnosed with COPD and there are likely just as many more who are undiagnosed.  Smoking is a significant risk factor for COPD.

Researchers now indicate that poor oral health is a risk factor for COPD.  Major factors are plaque buildup, gingivitis and periodontitis.  Careful screening by your dentist is essential.

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4 Comments on Poor Oral Health Linked To COPD

  1. Nova Scotia Dentist on Wed, 10th Feb 2010 9:20 am

    2. Good post. Regular dental check-ups & good dental hygiene are proven factors for a longer and happier life. For the life of me I cannot understand how the message doesn’t get out to the wider population in the way that it should.
    Thanks for posting.

  2. Eric on Tue, 9th Mar 2010 3:35 pm

    3. This is good information to know. Would there also be some, almost direct, correlation to COPD and the diet of persons whom have it? Also, would there be a link to those whom cannot afford Dental Insurance? Would you have any more informational statistics that would show the demographic of people who are at risk? I know I ask a ton of questions, but this topic definitely interests me. I will continue to follow your blog. Thanks for the information.

  3. Oasis on Thu, 11th Mar 2010 5:42 am

    4. I guess it’s about time people didn’t ignore a simple toothache. It might lead to a even more serious problem. I’m hoping that people would soon give their teeth a break and treat it with some Dental Cleaning, Prevention & Exam before it gets worse.

  4. San Luis Obispo Dentist on Sat, 10th Apr 2010 12:49 am

    5. COPD is caused by noxious particles or gas, most commonly from tobacco smoking, which triggers an abnormal inflammatory response in the lung. Also known as chronic bronchitis, which is diagnosed clinically when people regularly cough up sputum.

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