Connection Between COVID-19 and Oral Health

COVID 19 has wreaked havoc on everybody’s lives for quite a while now. COVID-19 affects different people in different ways. Infected people have had a wide range of symptoms reported – from mild symptoms to severe illness.
Chest pain, difficulty breathing, and fever are three signs of COVID-19 that are frequently discussed, but there is evidence that COVID-19 could have oral symptoms as well.
Oral symptoms of COVID-19
Dry mouth and loss of taste and smell. Dry mouth and loss of taste and smell are two symptoms reported by many COVID-19 patients. These can be some of the first and only symptoms exhibited in some cases.
Excessive salivation and angular cheilitis. Hypersalivation is also a potential symptom which can contribute to issues like angular cheilitis (inflammation of the corners of the mouth), since the salivary enzymes in excess saliva can irritate the skin.
Bad breath. The SARS-CoV-2 virus can cause changes to the surface of the tongue and the chemicals in saliva. These changes may lead to the development of halitosis (bad breath). However, more research needs to be done, since there are a variety of factors that can contribute to more noticeable bad breath. For example, wearing a mask may make a patient more aware of the smell of his or her breath or encourage mouth breathing, which can contribute to bad breath. Bad breath is also a common side effect of several over-the-counter medicines used to treat COVID-19 at home.
Oral ulcers and mouth rashes. Several patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 were also diagnosed with oral ulcers, according to research. Another potential symptom is the presence of a rash on the upper palate of the mouth. Various types of internal rash were found in patients with confirmed diagnoses of COVID 19. Certain rash patterns are more commonly associated with viral infections, and the rashes found in COVID-19 patients are consistent with those patterns. 
Research has shown that deep periodontal pockets is a favorable reservoir for the virus that causes COVID 19. Inflammation caused by gum disease contributes to the severity of a patient’s COVID 19 symptoms. This is because the infection triggers the release of interleukin-6 which can damage tissue in the lungs and blood vessels. Damage to these body parts can lessen the amount of oxygen a person gets and contribute to COVID 19 progressing faster.
The problem in diagnosing COVID 19 is that two people have rarely the same exact symptoms. If you are unsure if you have COVID symptoms manifested in your mouth,
Do not hesitate to call the Office of Dr. Kimberly A. Rosen for any questions or concerns at 661-255-2545.