Unexpected Issues Caused by Dental Appliances, Earbuds, and Contact Lenses
Many patients find solace in tools that help them lead a normal life without medical issues. Circumstances often lead many to wear contact lenses, dental appliances, or even earbuds.
However, research conducted by specialists at Cardiff University in the United Kingdom suggests that the aforementioned tools may be a breeding ground for diseases.
Scientists took samples from the mouth, tongue, and dental appliances of some patients with lung inflammation, comparing them to samples from healthy individuals who wear dental appliances. They concluded that “irregular cleaning of dental appliances increases the risk of suffering from lung inflammation.”
During the study, published in the “Medical Microbiology” journal, scientists discovered that dental appliances provide a space that hosts disease-causing organisms, serving as a base from which they can travel towards the lungs.
Therefore, experts advise removing dental appliances and cleaning them with a toothbrush designated for this purpose twice a day.
Regarding hearing aids, experts from Manchester Royal Hospital found that they deprive the ear of air, creating a moist and warm environment that contributes to bacterial and fungal infections in the ear canal, extending from the eardrum to the external ear. They recommend removing them for comfort.
As for reusable contact lenses, they come into contact with a thin layer of tears on the cornea, exposing patients to corneal infections, according to doctors at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London.
