06/01/2026
Experts cited in the article indicated that because of several factors — including a lack of access to oral hygiene products, an inability to brush the teeth and the exclusion of oral hygiene from standard care services — a large proportion of patients may not brush their teeth when hospitalized. Forgoing oral hygiene during hospitalization may increase the risk of hospital-acquired pneumonia, which can lengthen the duration of hospitalization, increase the risk of mortality and elevate health care costs.