COVID 19 and Swollen Gums
According to research, patients with COVID-19 are at least three times more likely to experience complications if they also have gum disease. This is all relatively new research, but the signs point to gum disease possibly making COVID 19 worse.
Periodontitis and Covid-19: source of serious complications
Important research, led by dental surgeon Dr. Shervin Molayem, was recently published in the California Dental Association Journal. The new study associates periodontitis and COVID-19. This research suggests that the virus is more serious in the presence of inflammation caused by gum disease. This is because the bacteria from diseased gums can spread through the body, which can hurt your body’s natural immune response to COVID 19. This study conducted on 568 patients showed that in case of Covid-19, the presence of inflamed gums increases the risk of death by approximately 9 times, while the probability of incurring complications increases by almost 4 times.
Higher mortality rate
Periodontitis has been linked to higher mortality rates for people with COVID 19, so prevention of this disease is very important, as is screening for the disease in affected patients.
Good oral hygiene has never been more important.
Bacterial plaque can harbor respiratory and periodontal pathogens. These agents can reach the systemic circulation and invade host cells. Keeping the oral bacteria load as low as possible can reduce the risk of aspiration into the respiratory tract.
Periodontitis: an inflammation that affects the gums and surrounding tissues
We have often talked about periodontitis, a disorder that affects one in two Italians and which in 15% is severe, with a real danger of tooth loss. Periodontitis is an inflammation that affects not only the gums, but also the surrounding tissues. To learn more about the symptoms and how to treat it you can click here.
Why does periodontitis worsen the course of Covid-19?
The hypotheses are that the chronic inflammation generated by this disease may make subjects more susceptible to the inflammatory storm that Covid-19 unleashes. Another reason could be the high bacterial load found in the mouth of a patient with periodontitis and which could increase the probability of bronchopulmonary infections. There are few studies on this topic. However, proper oral hygiene and periodontal interventions should not be underestimated to minimize serious complications from COVID-19.
We know that comorbidities such as diabetes and heart disease can worsen COVID-19. The scientific evidence speaks for itself. We now know that periodontitis and COVID-19 are related.
And that the risk for more serious conditions from this new disease is equivalent to periodontitis.
Thus, it can be stated that periodontal diseases are aggravated risk factors for COVID-19, similarly to that linked to diabetes and heart disease.
The dentist has a fundamental role in preventing the development of serious symptoms of COVID19 infection. The inflammatory processes caused by gum disease can have an indirect effect on the lungs, which exacerbates the symptoms of COVID-19.
All of this can be avoided by removing bacteria from existing plaque. In this context, education about oral hygiene is essential.