Learn More About Oral Care And Aspiration Pneumonia

By Christopher Wallace


Basically, aspiration might not necessarily result in pneumonia. However, it is suggested that larynx that acts like a valve might not be sufficient always to deter food and the secretions from getting to the base of the respiratory system. Nevertheless, aspiration pneumonia arises when large bacteria loads gets into your respiratory system. As a result, they overwhelm and then weaken your immunity. It is, therefore, important to be well-informed about oral care and aspiration pneumonia.

Generally, it is suggested that people who are dysphagic are predisposed to this particular pneumonic condition even though this is not for every dysphagic case. This for a number of reasons. First, the condition developed by aspiration results when you suffer a heart attack, a severe illness or surgery. Severe ailments usually cause stress response via the hypothalamus that consequently lowers your body immunity.

Consequently, this causes the condition to develop especially within three to seven days after a severe illness. It is generally wondered the source of the bacteria that causes pneumonia for dysphagic patients. Although some argue for the stomach being a consequence, adequate dental literature and research indicate that oral hygiene is a much likelier source. When one falls ill, the level of bacteria in the mouth cavity rises.

The stress response normally regulated by the hypothalamus usually result in cessation or a decline in the secretion of oral saliva or mucous in the mouth cavity. The saliva and the mucous normally helps in fighting the bacteria due to their immune properties. Therefore, a decrease results in a decline of their function, hence allowing the bacteria to increase in the mouth. Therefore, the bacterial load increases with every inhalation thereby causing the illness.

Oral care basically assists in fighting the bacteria that could develop inside the mouth particularly when you get severely ill. In fact, aspiration-induced pneumonic can be significantly reduced when one frequently visits dental hygienists or if these specialists visit patients in nursing facilities. Again, the ventilator-dependent condition is significantly lessened by observing some aggressive oral care.

Because of the implication of mouth cavity hygiene on this illness, there are various issues that you may need to consider in order to maintain a high level of hygiene. To begin with, you may need to brush your teeth at least once a day although three times in a day will be even more effective. For patients, nurses now use toothbrushes fitted with suction tubes to aid in catching secretions when brushing thus preventing any possible swallowing of bacteria.

At the same time, the green sponges often used to clean the mouth cavity remain ineffective and even cause more damage. However, their effect is usually similar to that of lemon glycerine swabs. Although the lemon will help, the swabs with the glycerine alone will only moisten your mouth but not clean it.

Essentially, good hygiene of the mouth prevents any bacteria accumulation, especially for severely sick patients. In consequence, it is suggested that regular and thorough cleaning is carried out to the mouth. This will offer protection against bacterial aspiration pneumonia.




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