Brushing your teeth regularly and maintaining proper oral hygiene can play a big role in fighting COVID-19 – since patients with gum disease are nine times more likely to die from the insect, according to new research.
A study of more than 500 patients also found that those with gum disease were 3.5 times more likely to be admitted to intensive care and 4.5 times more likely to need a ventilator, Medical Xpress reported.
CORONAVIRUS: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
In addition, coronavirus patients with poor gum health are at least three times more likely to experience complications, according to the study published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology.
Blood markers that indicate inflammation in the body were markedly higher in patients with gum disease, suggesting that inflammation may explain the high rates of complications.
“The results of the study suggest that inflammation in the oral cavity may open the door for the coronavirus to become more violent,” said study co-author Professor Lior Shapira of the Hebrew University of Israel.
“Oral care should be part of health recommendations to reduce the risk of serious COVID-19 results,” added Shapira, president-elect of the European Federation of Periodontology.
Periodontitis, a serious form of gum disease that affects up to half of all adults worldwide, can spread throughout the body if left untreated – and COVID-19 is associated with an inflammatory response that can be fatal.
The study, which was conducted in Qatar, included 568 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 between February and July 2020.
Of these, 40 had complications – including admission to the ICU, placement on a ventilator or death – and 528 did not.
Other factors, including body mass index, asthma, heart disease, diabetes, blood pressure and smoking were also taken into account in the complications of COVID-19. Data on blood levels of chemicals related to inflammation in the body have also been obtained.
The chance of death for COVID-19 patients with gum disease was 8.81 times higher than for others, while the chances of ending up in intensive care or on a ventilator were 3.54 and 4.57 times higher, respectively.
“If a causal link is established between periodontitis and increased rates of adverse outcomes in patients with COVID-19, then establishing and maintaining periodontal health can become an important part of caring for these patients,” wrote the authors.
Professor Mariano Sanz, from the Complutense University of Madrid, Spain, one of the authors, said that oral bacteria in patients with periodontitis can be inhaled and infect the lungs.
“This can contribute to the deterioration of patients with COVID-19 and increase the risk of death. Hospital staff should identify patients with COVID-19 with periodontitis and use oral antiseptics to reduce the transmission of bacteria,” he said.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE
Shapira said the link between periodontitis and lung disease, including asthma, pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is well established.
“This study adds more evidence to the links between oral health and respiratory conditions. Periodontitis is a common disease, but it can be prevented and treated,” said Shapira.