Covid-19 Symptoms Related to Dental

The COVID-19 infection is no ordinary viral infection. From the respiratory system, eyes, immunity, skin, and oral health, the Novel Coronavirus can affect you in different ways, and cause a host of problems. In many cases, people who tested positive for the virus have reported that the symptoms tend to linger, even after complete recovery and testing negative.

Doctors in India suggest that recently, there has been a significant increase in COVID-19 survivors reporting dental problems such as sensitive gums, teeth turning grey, bleeding in the gums, teeth cracking, and tooth loss. Although the doctors are still trying to establish a direct link between the COVID-19 infection and dental problems, preliminary studies suggest that the mouth could be the most vulnerable area to the virus, because of the presence of Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE2) receptor in the oral tissue.

Let us look at the common COVID-19-related dental issues:

Gingival inflammation

Many patients diagnosed with COVID-19 infection complain about inflammation or bleeding gums. Healthcare experts suggest that this could be because of elevated cytokine levels and interleukins initiated by the Novel Coronavirus. The risk of gum diseases is high among COVD-19 patients because of the increased levels of circulating cytokines.

Dryness in the mouth or Xerostomia

It is observed that many COVID-19 patients complain about dry mouth. Doctors suggest that this could happen for various reasons, and the most common cause is breathing through the mouth while wearing the face mask.

Studies indicate that another possible reason for dry mouth among COVID-19 patients could be the entry of the coronavirus in the salivary gland, which has ACE2 receptors in abundance. While the researchers are trying to study the causal effect, some dental care experts suggest that dry mouth or Xerostomia increases the risk of candida infection.

Cracked teeth

In September 2020, an article published in the New York Times discussed the phenomena of dentists in the US getting an increasing number of patients with cracked teeth during the COVID-19 pandemic. The article cited that the reason for this is bruxism, which essentially means clenching and grinding of the teeth.

Experts linked three specific COVID-19-related factors for the increase in tooth fracture from bruxism. First, the psychological stress from the pandemic. Second, poor orthopaedic posture due to the makeshift workstation at home. And lastly, lack of sufficient and quality sleep among the COVID-19 patients.

Loss of taste

Loss of taste is one of the most common COVID-19 symptoms. It is, in fact, one of the earliest indicators of COVID-19 infection. Research suggests that nearly 47% of the people who test positive for COVID-19 complain of taste and smell loss. And, the ratio is particularly high among people who have mild symptoms or are asymptomatic.

Experts suspect that one of the reasons for loss of taste and smell could be disruption of the cranial nerve and the supporting cells of neural transmission.

Maintain proper oral care and be safe

Now that you are aware of the various potential dental risks associated with COVID-19, it is vital to take care of your dental health, as you deal with other signs and symptoms. Make sure to practice preventive care and good dental hygiene. This itself can reduce the risk of serious dental issues by more than 50%. Your daily dental care should include brushing your teeth after every meal, or at least twice a day, flossing every day, using a good quality brush and a mouthwash.

Always keep your dentist’s number handy, and don’t hesitate to consult them as soon as you notice something unusual in your teeth or gums. Keep your guards up always; it is the best way to prevent the virus from becoming a health menace.