Dental News - New study links poor oral health to respiratory disease

Dental Tribune International

Fri. 24. August 2018

save

FUKUOKA, Japan: According to new research from Japan, elderly people with poor oral health constantly ingest oral microbial populations that are more dysbiotic, which could lead to respiratory health problems and pneumonia. The study highlights the importance of dental health and the attention that should be given to tongue microbiota status in older adults with poor oral health.

The findings come from a large population-based study, led by Dr Yoshihisa Yamashita from the Faculty of Dental Science at Kyushu University in Fukuoka in Japan, that identified variations in the tongue microbiota among elderly people in Japan. Prior to the study, researchers knew that aspiration of saliva in combination with dysbiotic tongue microbiota can lead to pneumonia. In their study, Yamashita and his colleagues investigated the tongue microbiota variations and dental health of 506 men and women aged 70–80 using next-generation sequencing to analyse the samples and identified factors associated with dysbiotic shift in the tongue microbiota composition.

The researchers found that the total bacterial density was independent of dental health, whereas the microbiota composition showed an association with tooth conditions. They found two cohabiting groups of predominant commensals, one of which was primarily composed of Prevotella histicola, Veillonella atypica, Streptococcus salivarius and Streptococcus parasanguinis, which have been previously associated with an increased risk of mortality due to pneumonia among frail elderly people. This bacterial group was more predominant in the participants with fewer teeth, a higher plaque index and more caries-affected teeth.

“Fewer teeth, poorer dental hygiene, and more dental caries experience are closely related to dysbiotic shift in the tongue microbiota composition, which might be harmful to the respiratory health of elderly adults with swallowing problems,” said Yamashita.

The study, titled “Tongue microbiota and oral health status in community-dwelling elderly adults,” was published online in mSphere on 15 August 2018.

Tags:

To post a reply please login or register

Study links frailty to poor oral health

MELBOURNE, Australia/LONDON, UK: It is widely known that poor nutrition is a risk factor for frailty. Similarly, the link between nutrition and oral health ...

New study links poor toothbrushing habits to heart disease

CHICAGO, US/LONDON, UK: A new study presented during the 2018 American Heart Association Scientific Sessions held recently has suggested that brushing ...

Researchers employ AI to investigate links between oral health and cardiovascular disease

STONY BROOK, N.Y., US: The applicability and efficacy of artificial intelligence (AI) within dentistry appears to be limitless. With each passing day, ...

New research links oral health and weight issues

GOTHENBURG, Sweden: Having children eat healthily can be a tricky task. However, having found an association between the prevalence of cariogenic bacteria ...

New study explains link between obesity and periodontal disease

BUFFALO, N.Y., U.S.: In a new study, researchers sought to gain a deeper understanding of the link between obesity and periodontal disease. They found that ...

Poor oral health linked to body pain and migraine in women, study finds

SYDNEY, Australia: The underlying causes of central sensitisation disorders such as migraine and fibromyalgia are poorly understood. The gut–brain axis ...

Study finds British athletes have poor oral health

LONDON, UK: Though elite athletes generally possess an enviable level of physical fitness, a recent study has shown that their oral health may leave much to...

Study links adolescent tooth loss to bullying

MELBOURNE, Australia: Tooth loss can have a profound impact on social interactions and self-esteem. While poor oral health is known to be associated with ...

Research to examine possible links between periodontal disease and oral cancer

PLYMOUTH, UK: As worldwide oral cancer rates continue to climb, our understanding of what causes the disease to occur, thankfully, also continues to grow. ...

Oral health under threat from climate change, says new study

NEW DELHI, India: While the effects of climate change on general health are well documented, its impact on oral health remains less explored. A new scoping ...

Education

Live webinar
Tue. 14 October 2025
7:00 pm EST (New York)