The coronavirus can cause more severe symptoms in persons with poor dental health, according to studies. COVID patients with gum disease are three times more likely than those without to be hospitalized to critical care. They’re also nine times more likely to die from COVID and 4.5 times more likely to require a ventilator.
Why Does Poor Dental Health Increase The Risk Of COVID?
Because of the emergence of the pandemic, not brushing one’s teeth could have far-reaching consequences. There’s mounting evidence that poor dental health increases COVID risk.
Infection of virus cannot be predicted as it can be from any source. In the mouth, one may have several viruses and bacteria flourishing all time. Infection from coronavirus is rapid, and it can easily spread to other organs through the mouth, which leads to a terrible medical condition in a short span. In a recent study, this has been checked by experts leading to some shocking facts.
The oral infection of coronavirus can lead to infection to different organs of the body, which is checked by the experts with the help of a wide array of samples from different areas.
When bacteria in the mouth get inflamed, they can lead to gum disease by gnawing away at the mouth’s tissues and entering the bloodstream. Once inside, the bacteria can spread throughout the body and settle in various organs, causing inflammation and eventually contributing to a variety of specific and chronic diseases.
Is COVID experiencing the same issues?
People with severe COVID had higher levels of a specific inflammatory marker than individuals with mild or moderate symptoms (called CRP). Some persons with severe COVID also experience a “cytokine storm” in which the immune system goes into overdrive to attack the virus while simultaneously harming the body’s tissues.
Gum illness can provoke the same type of zealous immune response as COVID, according to research. People with poor dental health also have elevated levels of CRP and cytokines (though to a lesser degree). When both infections are present at once with the coronavirus and aggressive oral bacteria both in the blood, the immune response may probably become more aggressive, resulting in worse consequences for people.
Bacterial superinfections, for example, are a major issue with COVID and other respiratory viral diseases. These occur when areas immediately infected by the virus, such as the lungs and airways, are infected with bacteria simultaneously.
In patients with COVID, bacterial superinfections are common, and they’re even more common in those with more severe diseases. It’s unclear what effect they have, but it’s plausible to believe that having these illnesses at the same time increases the chance of serious illness and death. Throughout the epidemic, research has revealed that a substantial percentage of persons dying with COVID, up to 50% in some cases, were also infected with germs.
If someone’s dental hygiene is bad, they’re more likely to have a superinfection. Poor oral hygiene leads to more aggressive bacteria in the mouth, which can easily be inhaled and spread to the airway and lungs, causing a superinfection.
Furthermore, poor dental health may aid in the spread of the coronavirus throughout the body. Gum disease-causing bacteria’s enzymes can modify the surface of the mouth and respiratory tract, making it easier for other germs such as the coronavirus to cling to and develop on these surfaces.
Maintaining adequate oral hygiene is consequently more crucial than ever. A fluoride-containing toothpaste should be used twice a day for at least two minutes, and regular dental visits are necessary for optimal oral health. If you catch the coronavirus, maintaining good dental health and taking care of your mouth could dramatically minimize your chances of experiencing severe symptoms.
