“…Proposed mechanisms linking periodontitis and COPD include the following: aspiration of potentially pathogenic bacteria from the oral cavity (Scannapieco, 1999); systemic inflammatory mechanisms (Cardoso, Reis, & ManzanaresâCespedes, 2018); or a common role of neutrophil dysfunction including disturbances in protease/antiâprotease and redox state balance that predispose to inflammation and tissue destruction in both lung and periodontal tissues (Usher & Stockley, 2013). The potential implication of periodontitis causally contributing to COPD pathogenesis is important as it provides a rationale to consider periodontal prevention and treatment as therapeutic options in the management of COPD (Kucukcoskun, Baser, Oztekin, Kiyan, & Yalcin, 2013; Shen et al, 2016; Zhou et al, 2014).…”