Your dentist has no doubt told you why you must brush regularly, floss every day and use appropriate mouthwash. But here’s yet another reason why dental health is important: it helps keep your lungs healthy. If you have poor dental hygiene, you could be inviting oral bacteria to travel from your mouth to your lungs where it can lead to a persistent cough, among other things.

Oral Hygiene and the Lungs

Even in a healthy mouth, there are harmful bacteria that are kept in check by an equal level of beneficial bacteria. Yet when negative bacteria numbers rise too much, the teeth, gums and lungs can suffer. An overgrowth of bad bacteria in the mouth can be blamed for tooth decay, inflamed and bleeding gums and other problems, including unexplained coughs. The migration of oral bacteria from mouth to lungs can be held responsible for pneumonia as well as long term conditions such as emphysema. If you have a cough, it’s worth getting your teeth checked out, as certain studies have shown links between dental problems and the occurrence of respiratory conditions.

How to Settle Your Cough

If you suspect your cough is in fact caused by dental problems, then you will need to book in for a dentist appointment to rule out this cause. In the meantime, it’s a good idea to implement a healthy dental routine such as brushing with fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day, flossing daily, using alcohol-free mouthwash, and brushing the surface of your tongue to remove bacteria when you brush your teeth. Keeping everything clean in your mouth will help diminish the growth of harmful bacteria and bring your oral health back into balance.

Need Help with a Cough? Make a Dental Appointment Today

If you’ve got a cough that won’t budge even after a doctor visit, it could be a problem with your teeth. Bad bacteria in the mouth can irritate the throat and lungs, causing a cough and contributing to longer term respiratory problems down the track. To book in for a dental appointment with East Bentleigh Dental Group, call us on (03) 9575 1100.