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People who are infected and inflamed gums shows higher rates of complications and worse outcomes diagnosed with the SARS-COV-2 virus, according to a new international study led by McGill researchers recently published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology. 

New research finds a link between COVID-19 severity and gum disease. 

• A new research at McGill University finds a strong link between periodontitis, a common form of gum disease, and severe COVID-19 outcomes.
• Previous research published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology found gum disease is linked to severe Covid-19 complications 
• It is also said in the research that systemic inflammation is not only a symptoms of Covid-19 but it also seen in Periodontitis, which produces an inflammatory response that may spread through the body
• Research also discovered that people with periodontitis or gum disease were 3.5 times more likely require hospitalisation, 4.5 times more likely ventilation and 8.8 times more likely to die of COVID-19 when compared to those who are not having gum disease. 
• The periodontitis risk can be reduced by practicing strong oral hygiene, according to oral hygiene expert

The most difficult thing about Covid-19 is its wide range of symptoms and outcomes, people suffering. The new research shows the link between gum disease and covid-19 complications and deaths occurs due to it. 

What is periodontitis

Periodontal disease, commonly known as gum disease, which is a serious infection that occurs due to accumulation of bacteria between gums and teeth. This can cause bleeding gums, bad breath, and if left untreated, it cause painful abscesses, teeth damage and leads to tooth loss. 

According to AAP and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it was found that adult people from US of age 30 and above have some form of periodontal disease. According to the research, it is also reported that periodontitis is the most common disease in Canada, affecting 7 on 10 people ones in their lifetime. Periodontal disease has been linked to several other serious conditions in addition to COVID-19, including diabetes, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s.

In one of the studies with 568 patients, it has been reported that patients who were having were at least three times more likely to experience COVID‐19 complications including death, ICU admission, and ventilation. COVID-19 patients with periodontitis also showed increased levels of biomarkers associated with worsened disease including white blood cell levels, D‐dimer, and c-reactive protein. According to co-author McGill Ph.D. student Wenji Cai, “Periodontitis has been considered as a risk factor for a number of both oral and systemic diseases.”

Systemic inflammation

Systemic inflammation causes the body to overreact and in some cases attack itself. It was analysed in the research that the biomarkers indicating inflammation were present in larger levels in the blood of the Covid-19 patients, who was also suffering from periodontics. 

According to the reports, corona virus causes an inflammatory response in the Covid-19 patients that leads to many complications and even death. Research also shows that periodontics patients among these Covid patients, increases the severity of corona disease. 

 Dr. Faleh Tamimi, senior author told Medical News Today in an email, “What we suspect is happening is that upon COVID-19 infection, periodontal patients start the course of the disease with an already high level of inflammation in their bodies.”

“This makes the patients at a disadvantage, if their COVID-19 disease develops hyper-inflammation, making them more susceptible to the severe outcomes of the disease

How to prevent periodontitis? 

 To prevent periodontitis, people should be concerned by keeping good oral hygiene, including proper brushing, daily flossing, and maintaining a schedule of regular dental examinations.

According to research “Periodontitis causes inflammation of the gums and, if left untreated, that inflammation can spread throughout the body.”

It can also be prevented by raising the awareness about periodontitis among people to maintain the health especially during this global pandemic. 

The study concludes:

The authors of the study found, only the association between these periodontitis and severe Covid-19 but doesn’t establish any relationship and future research would help to give better understanding about the connection between these two disease. 

Although, strong correlation between periodontitis and disease outcome has been found in the new research, it is advised to understand and focus on the importance of good oral health, which in turn can help in the prevention and management of Covid-19 complications.