Pneumonia is a major cause of death in Taiwan, especially among the elderly. It''s known to be spread through inhaling airborne droplets that carry the virus. Doctors warn that there''s another form of pneumonia, one caused by poor oral hygiene. Researchers say aspiration pneumonia is an especially deadly form of pneumonia that is prone to affect people who have problems with their teeth.Dental problems among the elderly don''t just create trouble with chewing and swallowing. Taiwan researchers say that bad teeth can also lead to a dangerous lung infection called aspiration pneumonia.Hsu Ming-lunYang-Ming University''s School of DentistryAspiration pneumonia can nearly triple a person''s mortality rate. When food particles remain in the mouth, or when oral hygiene is lacking, you can accidentally get substances in your lungs just from swallowing, coughing, or inhaling. That''s a major factor that contributes to aspiration pneumonia.Watch out if you have problems swallowing, or if you feel that there''s constantly food stuck in your throat. Experts say these issues raise the risk of developing aspiration pneumonia.Yu I-chenYang-Ming University HospitalIf you are able to swallow completely three times in 30 seconds, that''s normal. If more than 30 seconds pass and you have swallowed less than three times, there is reason to believe that your ability to swallow is impaired.Pneumonia ranks third in the nation''s top 10 causes of death. Yang-Ming University''s dentistry team has designed an exercise regimen that targets muscles in the mouth so that patients can boost their oral health.
