Researchers have found that toothbrushing may help reduce rates of pneumonia for hospitalised patients.
A new study by investigators from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute examined whether daily toothbrushing among hospitalised patients is associated with lower rates of hospital-acquired pneumonia.
The team combined the results of 15 randomised clinical trials that included more than 2,700 patients. They found that hospital-acquired pneumonia rates were lower among patients who received daily toothbrushing compared to those who did not.
Published in JAMA Internal Medicine, the team also identified that toothbrushing for patients in the ICU was associated with fewer days of mechanical ventilation and a shorter length of stay in the ICU.
Decrease bacteria
Hospital-acquired pneumonia occurs when bacteria in the mouth enter a patient’s airways and infect their lungs.
Patients experiencing frailty or patients with a weakened immune system are particularly susceptible to the condition.
However, researchers suggest that adopting a daily toothbrushing regimen can decrease the amount of bacteria in the mouth. As a result, it can potentially lower the risk of hospital-acquired pneumonia occurring.
‘The signal that we see here towards lower mortality is striking—it suggests that regular toothbrushing in the hospital may save lives,’ said corresponding author Michael Klompas, hospital epidemiologist and an infectious disease physician.
‘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.’
Catalyse policies
Klompas added: ‘The findings from our study emphasise the importance of implementing an oral health routine that includes toothbrushing for hospitalised patients.
‘Our hope is that our study will help catalyse policies and programmes to assure that hospitalised patients regularly brush their teeth.
‘If a patient cannot perform the task themselves, we recommend a member of the patient’s care team assist.’
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