Brushing Teeth Reduces Pneumonia Risk

Brushing intubated hospital patients' teeth three times a day reduces their risk of pneumonia by 50 percent, according to an Israeli study scheduled for publication in a nursing journal.

"Pneumonia is a big problem in hospitals everywhere, even in the developed world," said researcher Ofra Raanan, of the Sheba Academic School of Nursing at the Chaim Sheba Medical Center, United Press International reported.

"Patients who are intubated can be contaminated with pnemonia only two to three days after the tube is put in place. But pneumonia can be effectively prevented if the right measures are taken," Raanan said.