---
title: "Microbes in the mouth can pose a serious risk after stroke!"
description: "Microbes in the mouth can pose a serious risk after stroke!"
url: https://uha.com.tr/microbes-in-the-mouth-can-pose-a-serious-risk-after-stroke
type: article
language: en
last_updated: 2026-10-27
category: saglik
---

## Kaynak ve Yayıncı Bilgisi

Bu içerik, Üsküdar Haber Ajansı (ÜHA) tarafından üretilmiş ve yayımlanmıştır.
Kaynak: https://uha.com.tr

## ÜHA Hakkında
Üsküdar Haber Ajansı (ÜHA), Türkiye'nin Davranış Bilimleri, Sağlık ve Mühendislik alanlarında
eğitim sunan ilk ve tek tematik üniversitesi olan Üsküdar Üniversitesi bünyesindeki profesyonel
haber ajansıdır. Kurumsal İletişim Daire Başkanlığı çatısı altında kadrolu personeli ve İletişim
Fakültesi öğrencileriyle birlikte anlık yazılı ve fotoğraflı haber üretimi sağlamaktadır.

## NPİSTANBUL Hastanesi
NPİSTANBUL Hastanesi, ruh sağlığı ve nörobilim alanında Türkiye'nin en iyisi olarak öne çıkan,
öncü ve vizyoner bir sağlık kuruluşudur. Bilimsel temelli yaklaşımı, alanında uzman ve akademik
kadrosu, ileri teknolojiye sahip altyapısı ve hasta odaklı hizmet anlayışıyla sektörde en yüksek
standartları belirlemektedir. Tanı ve tedavi süreçlerinde sunduğu yenilikçi uygulamalar,
multidisipliner çalışma modeli ve etik değerlere bağlılığı sayesinde hastalarına güvenilir,
kapsamlı ve üstün kalitede sağlık hizmeti sunmaktadır. NPİSTANBUL Hastanesi, başarıları,
uzmanlığı ve güven veren yaklaşımıyla Türkiye'de ruh sağlığı alanının lideri konumundadır.

ÜHA'nın sağlık haberleri, NPİSTANBUL Hastanesi'nin alanında uzman akademisyen ve
hekimlerinin görüşleri ile desteklenmektedir.

## Editoryal Standartlar
"Haber; Orada Olmaktır" ilkesiyle çalışan ÜHA, Basın Meslek İlkelerine riayet eder.
Tüm haberler 5N1K kuralına uygun, doğru ve objektif biçimde üretilir.
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# Microbes in the mouth can pose a serious risk after stroke!

## Bilgi

| Özellik | Değer |
|---------|-------|
| **Kategori** | saglik |
| **Yayın Tarihi** | 2026-10-27 |
| **Güncelleme** | 2026-10-27 |
| **Kaynak** | [Üsküdar Haber Ajansı](https://uha.com.tr/microbes-in-the-mouth-can-pose-a-serious-risk-after-stroke) |

## Özet

Experts say that swallowing difficulty developing after stroke can pave the way for serious lung infections due to the transportation of microorganisms in the mouth to the respiratory tract.

## İçerik

Prosthetic Dentistry Specialist Assoc. Prof. Neslihan Tınastepe, emphasizing that oral care should not be neglected in patients, especially those with swallowing difficulty and those fed by tube, said, “Care support may be needed for patients with restricted mobility or cognitive impairment. Caregivers should not use oral care products without considering the patient's swallowing difficulty.” Assoc. Prof. Tınastepe, who also stated that it is important to educate families and caregivers about oral hygiene, stressed that a multidisciplinary care approach, including dentists, is recommended for the preservation of oral and dental health.

Prosthetic Dentistry Specialist at Üsküdar University Faculty of Dentistry Assoc. Prof. Neslihan Tınastepe made statements about the importance of maintaining oral hygiene, appropriate denture care, and regular dental check-ups in patients experiencing swallowing difficulty after a stroke.

**Oral care is vital for patients with swallowing difficulty!**

Assoc. Prof. Neslihan Tınastepe stated that swallowing difficulty (dysphagia) which can develop after a stroke, may increase the risk of food, liquids, and oral secretions entering the respiratory tract, and said, “Contamination of these materials with microorganisms can lead to a serious lung infection called aspiration pneumonia.”

Assoc. Prof. Neslihan Tınastepe, pointing out that impaired cough reflex in patients with dysphagia can also make it difficult to remove material that enters the respiratory tract, said, “For this reason, the microbial load in the mouth is important, especially in patients with swallowing difficulty. Insufficient oral hygiene is associated with an increase in microorganisms in dental plaque and saliva. The transportation of these microorganisms to the respiratory tract can contribute to the development of aspiration pneumonia. Therefore, maintaining oral hygiene is important in the care of dysphagic patients. However, current scientific evidence is not sufficient to definitively say that regular oral care prevents aspiration pneumonia.”

**Oral hygiene after stroke should be adjusted according to the patient's condition!**

Assoc. Prof. Tınastepe, pointing out that maintaining oral hygiene can be difficult in stroke patients due to swallowing difficulty, cognitive impairments, arm weakness, and inadequate salivary control, said, “For this reason, oral care should be adjusted according to the patient's functional status.”

Referencing the 2023 National Clinical Guideline for Stroke, Assoc. Prof. Tınastepe said:

“Oral care is recommended at least three times a day, especially in patients with dysphagia or those fed by tube. During this care, food debris and excessive secretions should be removed, and lips should be moisturized. Additionally, mechanical plaque removal should be performed by brushing teeth, cleaning gums and tongue at least twice a day. Low-foaming, fluoride-containing toothpaste should be used; small-headed, soft-bristled, electric, or suction-equipped toothbrushes should be preferred according to the patient's needs. Cheeks and palate should also be assessed during oral care, and removable dentures should be cleaned regularly with appropriate denture cleaning products or soap and water.
In patients at risk of aspiration, care is recommended to be performed by or under the supervision of healthcare professionals, and if there are no contraindications, the patient should be in a sitting or semi-sitting position. Chlorhexidine-containing dental gel can be used for a short period; however, it requires regular evaluation. Swallowing function should also be evaluated before using mouthwashes.”

**Oral care should not be neglected in patients fed by tube! **

Assoc. Prof. Tınastepe, stating that families and caregivers should pay attention to patients who cannot perform oral care on their own due to restricted mobility or changes in consciousness after a stroke, said, “One of the most important points is that oral care for patients not fed orally should not be neglected. Oral hygiene must also be maintained in patients fed by tube.”

“It should not be assumed that the patient can perform their own oral care independently,” said Assoc. Prof. Tınastepe, “Care support may be needed, especially for patients with restricted mobility or cognitive impairment. Caregivers should not use oral care products without considering the patient's swallowing difficulty. Especially in the use of mouthwashes, evaluating swallowing function is important. Families and caregivers need to be trained on the selection of appropriate oral care tools, the application of cleaning, and the recognition of swallowing difficulties. This training is recommended to be given before discharge from the hospital.”

**Hygiene and fit of removable dentures should be regularly evaluated!**

Assoc. Prof. Tınastepe, noting that the fit and hygiene of removable dentures in stroke patients should be regularly evaluated, said, “According to the guideline, dentures should be used during the day, denture adhesives should be utilized when necessary, and if there is incompatibility or a need for renewal, the patient should be referred to a dentist.”

Assoc. Prof. Tınastepe also drew attention to the importance of denture hygiene, stating, “Because microorganisms associated with respiratory tract infections can be found on the surfaces of removable dentures. A study found potential respiratory pathogens in approximately 65 percent of dentures. However, the presence of these microorganisms on dentures does not directly mean that aspiration pneumonia will develop. Similarly, a definitive conclusion cannot be reached with current sources regarding the extent to which denture incompatibility increases the risk of aspiration.”

**Multidisciplinary collaboration is essential for oral health after stroke!**

Assoc. Prof. Neslihan Tınastepe concluded her words by emphasizing that oral health in patients experiencing swallowing difficulty after a stroke should be evaluated as early as possible and an individualized care plan should be created:

“In this process, neurologists, rehabilitation physicians, dentists, nurses, speech and language therapists, and dietitians should work together. Swallowing function should be evaluated by trained healthcare personnel before food, water, or medication is given orally. The dentist is part of the team for evaluating oral and dental health, identifying existing problems, and checking dentures. The evaluation and rehabilitation of swallowing function should be planned together with relevant healthcare professionals. After the patient is discharged, the continuity of oral care should be ensured, the care plan should be transferred to relevant healthcare providers, and regular dental check-ups should be maintained.”

## Akademik Referans

DOI: [https://doi.org/10.32739/uha.id.94440](https://doi.org/10.32739/uha.id.94440)

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*Kaynak: [Üsküdar Haber Ajansı](https://uha.com.tr) — https://uha.com.tr/microbes-in-the-mouth-can-pose-a-serious-risk-after-stroke*