Mouth the mirror of lungs: where does the connection lie?
Periodontitis is the chronic destructive disease of the periodontium (Gums) caused by host bacterial interactions. The effect of such host bacterial interactions in oral cavity also evokes a systemic response. Numerous studies have found common mechanisms of destruction for periodontal diseases and other chronic diseases like diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, respiratory diseases, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Oral colonization by respiratory pathogens appears to be a risk factor for development of respiratory diseases and oral interventions aimed at reducing oral bacterial count have resulted in reduced incidence of these reparatory illness. This reflects the importance of oral hygiene among patients with respiratory illness. This review highlights the association between periodontal diseases and respiratory diseases.
Department of Periodontology, Indira Gandhi Institute of Dental Sciences, Pondicherry, 605005, India. jannpearl@gmail.com.
Jananni
J
Muthu
Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Indira Gandhi Institute of Dental Sciences, Pondicherry, 605005, India.
Sivaramakrishnan
S
Muthanandam
Department of Periodontology, Meenakshi Ammal Dental College & Hospital, Chennai, 600095, India.
Jaideep
J
Mahendra
D006801:Humans; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology*; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000382:microbiology*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000382:microbiology*; D012307:Risk Factors
COPD; acute pneumonia; periodontitis; respiratory diseases