Which of the following is NOT a risk factor for developing pneumonia?

• A. Dysphagia
• B. Poor Oral Hygiene
• C. Being Edentulous
• D. Motor Speech Disorder

Answer: (C)

The key idea is how swallowing safety and the amount of bacteria in the mouth influence pneumonia risk. Dysphagia directly increases risk because impaired swallow can allow food or liquid to enter the airway. Poor oral hygiene elevates the bacterial load in the mouth, so if aspiration happens, the lungs are exposed to more pathogens. A motor speech disorder can reflect reduced coordination of breathing and swallowing, along with weaker cough reflex, which also heightens the chance of airway invasion. Being edentulous, on the other hand, doesn’t by itself raise the risk of pneumonia; while lacking teeth can affect chewing and nutrition, it does not inherently compromise airway protection or increase oropharyngeal pathogen load in a way that would make pneumonia more likely.