bad teeth and copd

[sue]

I was just watching the local news and on their health alert, they were talking about bad teeth. They said the bacteria from bad teeth could also effect the lungs, causing bronchitis, E, COPD. I was wondering if anyone else heard of that before?

[merryfl]

Sue, I always thought it was the other way around -- that our meds cause dry mouth which results in bad teeth. I have spent a fortune at the dentist and never seem to make any progress. I had never considered the lungs may have been a result of the teeth. Hmmmmm.

[Colleen-NC]

Bad teeth can cause a whole host of problems, google it and see, you'll be suprised. I just had a lecture from the dentist about a month ago because I hadn't been in 8 years. Here's one link:

mizar5.com/killing.htm

[virginia]

Colleen, thanks...Gosh sort of like a horror movie huh? But good to know. I had heard that your gums could cause heart diease. An eye opener..

[blondie]

Seems like we can't win... I have always heard people lose teeth who smoke. Pat

[canyon711]

Anything that dries the saliva up is bad and cigarettes did that, so do our meds. The Saliva is there to flush out bacteria. People that I know that have had cancer of the salivary glands keep water with them all the time with a little baking soda in it to constantly rinse since their salivary glands are shot sometimes from the radiation as well. Lots of bacteria is the mouth and very important for heart health to keep them clean so I would guess bacteria could get into the lungs also though it is usually from the bloodstream that it gets into the heart.

[kenaz]

02 is a real killer because it dries the mouth so bad. Another is a C-PAP or BI-PAP for Sleep Apnea. Seems like we are the chosen for multiple defects.
Blessings and better breathing, Ken

[larrynz]

I gave up on teeth about 25 years ago, did buy new ones and they are still in my top drawer.
So that's one problem out of the way

[muffin]

I had lvrs to find out my teeth are killing me? Well should look into having them pulled.

[pennypa]

Ken, how does O2 affect the teeth? It goes into your lungs, not your mouth.

[canyon711]

Dries the mouth out. At least mine does. I had to send back one of the newest concentrators because of the drying problem. It was awful. Once I got back the other one the problem stopped. They said the new concentrator burned hotter so they though maybe that was the reason. How can you live without teeth? I wish I could get implants but I don't want to give a way a year of my life so to speak.

[larrynz]

Canyon I have no teeth and manage fine, never liked rare meat which is lucky, well cooked meat is not a problem, I eat everything the wife does and she has teeth.

[canyon711]

Well, no meat wouldn't bother me but I wouldn't want to look in the mirror and smile cause I have an upper denture and I don't like the way I look without it. More wrinkles without teeth. LOL

[maryaz]

Apr 28, 2008 21:32:31 GMT -5 canyon711 said:

Dries the mouth out. At least mine does. I had to send back one of the newest concentrators because of the drying problem. It was awful. Once I got back the other one the problem stopped. They said the new concentrator burned hotter so they though maybe that was the reason. How can you live without teeth? I wish I could get implants but I don't want to give a way a year of my life so to speak.

Canyon, I would like to hear more about this concentrator and the differences in them

I did know about bad teeth and that it leads to many problems. I had peridonital disease and have learned a lot thru the years. It is all about GERMS. Bacteria, germs, I struggle with dryness all the time. I did read an article a while back about COPD and teeth. Don't know if I kept it but not time to look for it.

Gotta go, (I am learning to zoom but slowly, very slowly)

[nancy]

Apr 27, 2008 15:23:29 GMT -5 kenaz said:

02 is a real killer because it dries the mouth so bad. Another is a C-PAP or BI-PAP for Sleep Apnea. Seems like we are the chosen for multiple defects.
Blessings and better breathing, Ken

I use a CPAP with a humidifier. Isn't that for the express purpose of not drying out the mouth?

[vickinc]

Apr 28, 2008 21:32:31 GMT -5 canyon711 said:

... I had to send back one of the newest concentrators because of the drying problem. It was awful. Once I got back the other one the problem stopped. They said the new concentrator burned hotter so they though maybe that was the reason....

I always use a humidifier bottle on my concentrator and have never had a problem with dry mouth. In the winter, I only have to fill it every few days. Sometimes in the summer, even in air conditioning, I have to fill it every couple of days. It seems to do the trick, though. Then again, I always have water nearby...it's really all I drink, except for 2 cups of coffee in the morning. So I don't know if the water or concentrator is the reason I don't seem to have a dry mouth problem.

I am in the middle of having partial plates done, and do think I got a tad sick after the first session (cleaning, pulling, planing, etc...). Looking back, I'd have been wise to start a round of levaquin beforehand. I will for the next round.

[vickinc]

Apr 27, 2008 17:21:27 GMT -5 larrynz said:

I gave up on teeth about 25 years ago, did buy new ones and they are still in my top drawer.
So that's one problem out of the way

Larry, you just crack me up. I didn't even realize, all those years ago, when we exchanged pics in our email group, that you were a toothless wonder---just like my grandbaby--you guys could be twins!

[larrynz]

CLICKABLE
The dogs have teeth they will look after me

[kenaz]

Penny, I'm sorry for missing this. The 02 dries out the mouth there by allowing bacteria to grow. The doctor told me to chew sugarless gum or suck on sugarless hard candy. Also make sure the humidifier bottle has sufficient water level.
Blessings thru Christ, Ken

[canyon711]

The concentrator that I sent back was the Respironics Everflo as pictured. I see they have a newer version now. It was anything but quiet as the background noise was quiet but the puff was so loud I could hear it from the other room. I understand that has been corrected. I may try it again with a humidifier. Yes, I don't know why it burns hotter than the others but I was told they had had some complaints about drying of mouth and they felt this might be the reason. If the humidifier would help I would try it though I was under the impression that you had to be very careful because they get bacteria in them which is why I have shied away from it. I know they don't use them in my hospital anymore unless you are over 5 liters and they used to use them all the time but that may be a cost factor and time factor. Since I was told whatever I own as of January 2009 is mine forevermore I want the best one I can get. Just as a side comment I don't think that my company is putting anyone on LOX anymore. They told me they were giving people the home fill units now but I got the impression that it was not the one that you also use as a concentrator. I was not aware there was one just for homefilling tanks because I thought they said then I would have two machines.

www.vitalitymedical.com/Product/Respironics-EverFlo-Oxygen-Concentrator-102000.html

[merryfl]

Canyon--I have this machine, and I know what you mean about the puff being loud. Took some getting used to. Otherwise I have had no trouble with it -- I do use a water bottle. I haven't noticed any difference in heat from my last machine. It has recently developed a funny little squeak while it is warming up. I'll have the tech take a look next time he calls. Seems to work well, though and uses less power than my last unit.

[Cherylmcc]

Graveline - Glad to hear it worked for you.