Is there an association between oral health and severity of COVID-19 complications?
Nathalie Botros, Parvati Iyer, David M. Ojcius
Abstract
Most patients with severe complications from COVID-19 have underlying conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. In parallel, there is growing evidence for a link between periodontitis and non-oral systemic diseases. The oral cavity is also a reservoir for respiratory pathogens, and patients with periodontal disease are more likely to develop hospital-acquired pneumonia than healthy individuals. We therefore hypothesize that improving oral health could decrease the severity of COVID-19 symptoms and reduce the associated morbidity.
Topics & Concepts
MedicinePeriodontitisPneumoniaCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)Diabetes mellitusObesityOral cavityOral healthDiseaseSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)Intensive care medicineInternal medicine2019-20 coronavirus outbreakOutbreakDentistryInfectious disease (medical specialty)PathologyEndocrinologyCOVID-19 Clinical Research StudiesCOVID-19 diagnosis using AIDermatological and COVID-19 studies