Dental Care & Pseudomonas Aeruginosa

[SEANP]

Has anyone ever looked into the possible link of Dental Care to
Pseudomonas?  I read an article a few years back that said
that elderly people in nursing homes can get sick (pneumonia) from
not taking care of their teeth.  Their respiratory
system gets infected because of the bacteria in their mouth.
 Apparently dental plaque is a buildup of bacteria and other
microorganisms into a tough biofilm that coats the teeth.
 Well that got me to thinking and as it turns out Pseudomonas
is one of those microorganisms.  Could this be how some CF
people colonize with this germ easier than others?  Would
regular cleanings, brushing, flossing and using a mouthwash equate
to a better chance of not getting colonized?  Just a thought I
had......... Anyone else ever hear of
this?      

 

[JazzysMom]

I would really like to know the link. It would sound logical & I have terrible plaque so I could see the connection. Hmmmmmmm...............

 

[NoExcuses]

.

 

[lightNlife]

I remember reading the study about geriatric patients and dental
health. A large contributing factor to the increased plaque
production was because many older people are on several medications
that interfere with normal saliva production.<br>
<br>
Anyone who is taking frequent and many meds (like CF patients!)
also run the risk of having decreases saliva production. But here's
the part that's of true concern for CF patients:<br>
<br>
Our sinuses are the link here. The sinuses and our
teeth/gums/periodontia are very connect. An unchecked tooth problem
can lead to a sinus infection (or other upper respiratory
infection). The converse is also true. An untreated sinus
infection--possibly caused by PA--could have an adverse impact on
our oral health.<br>
<br>
In my line of work we have what are called "best business
practices". A best business practice for keeping up with oral
health as it relates to upper respiratory health includes the
following:<br>
<br>
>If you have frequent dry mouth, use a toothpaste like Biotene,
or ask your dentist for Prevadent (it's a prescription
toothpaste)<br>
<br>
>to the extent practicable, take your meds with food. This helps
stimulate saliva production<br>
<br>
>change your toothbrush after you've been ill<br>
<br>
>make sure you're using a soft bristled brush. Hard bristles are
designed for dentures and don't do a good enough job of getting
close to the tooth to break up plaque<br>
<br>
>schedule preventive visits to your MD and DDS to increase the
chances of catching a problem in its early stages<br>
<br>
>for CF patients specifically, RINSE your mouth after Advair to
prevent yeast infections in your mouth<br>
<br>
<br>