Whether you’ve had an acute infection of COVID-19 which went away after a few weeks or are dealing with chronic COVID-19 symptoms, it’s important to know that the virus can impact your oral health.
But how exactly can COVID-19 impact the oral cavity? There are a few ways the virus can increase your risk for certain oral health problems, so keep reading to find out what symptoms you could experience and how to treat them.
Gingivitis: The First Stage of Gum Disease
Severe COVID-19 infections can impact the immune system and therefore make it more difficult for the body to fight oral bacteria associated with disease. For example, the bacteria involved in gum disease. As a result, people with COVID-19 may be more likely to experience gingivitis, the first stage of gum disease [1].
Gingivitis essentially means gum inflammation, and symptoms can range from red or tender gum tissue to bleeding gums and bad breath.
The association between COVID-19 and gingivitis is twofold. While patients with the virus may be more likely to experience gingivitis, those who have gum disease are at higher risk to experience severe outcomes from the virus, including ICU admission and assisted ventilation [2].
Increased Risk for Oral Infections and Lesions
COVID-19 has also been associated with an increased risk for oral lesions and oral infections. The presence of the virus can lead to inflammation which may cause oral tissues to respond, whether through ulcerations, recurring cold sores, or even fungal infections [3].
Fortunately, oral lesions will typically resolve on their own without treatment. However, oral fungal infections such as oral thrush, which causes symptoms such as white lesions, pain when swallowing, and redness at the corners of the mouth, will need to be treated with antibiotics.
Dry Mouth Due to Reduced Saliva
Dry mouth is a common side effect of COVID-19, appearing in 60% of cases a few days before other symptoms or up to two days after the onset of additional symptoms [4].
Although it’s not exactly clear how COVID-19 reduces saliva flow to cause dry mouth, what we do know is that the virus enters the body through the salivary glands and the viral load tends to be higher in saliva samples than blood samples. Therefore, the presence of COVID-19 in salivary glands could be the reason for this early symptom of the virus.
Dry mouth should resolve on its own after the virus has subsided. However, some patients will continue to experience this symptom weeks after infection. It’s essential to treat dry mouth because it can increase your risk for gum disease and cavities. You can manage dry mouth by staying hydrated, chewing sugarless gum, and limiting caffeine intake.
Seek Treatment for Any Oral Health Symptoms Related to COVID-19
Even if you believe an oral health symptom from COVID-19 is temporary, it’s best to follow up with your dentist when you are no longer contagious. Gingivitis, oral infections, and dry mouth can all have a significant impact on your oral health, so seeking treatment is always advisable.
Contact your dentist and let them know what symptoms you are experiencing and to schedule an appointment!
Sources:
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7264805/
2. https://www.perio.org/press-release/new-study-links-periodontitis-and-
covid%E2%80%9019-complications/
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8569657/
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8023012/
