The connection between oral health and the overall health of the body should not be disregarded. Many strong links have been established between oral health and medical problems including heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Bacteria that are found in the mouth can impact respiratory problems, also.
In Germany, a three-month study was performed that looked into patients who had been hospitalized with COVID-19. They discovered that patients who had gum disease (periodontitis) had a significantly greater risk of life-threatening respiratory failure than those who had healthy mouths.
This life-threatening condition is assumed to be to be caused by IL-6 (interleukin), a harmful protein that is produced by periodontitis. Interleukin spreads from the mouth into the lungs where it causes respiratory ailments.
According to Shervin Molayem, DDS, founder of the UCLA Dental Research Journal, “Gum disease has been linked to other breathing ailments, including pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, so we weren't surprised to find a link to respiratory problems with COVID-19.”
Molayem says, “what shocked us was the discovery of the protein's devastating, life-threatening impact on patients once they're hospitalized. One tiny, inflammatory protein robbed them of their ability to breathe.”
You can find out more about these findings in The Mouth-COVID Connection from the California Dental Association.
During COVID-19, having a healthy mouth and gums is more crucial than ever. Make certain you have your regular exam and cleaning scheduled with Dr. Zeva and contact us if you find any of the symptoms of periodontal disease.
Links:
Article
The Mouth-COVID Connection - California Dental Association
http://www.mouthcovidconnection.com/
Gum disease symptoms
https://www.perio.org/consumer/gum-disease-symptoms.htm
Choosing a general dentist to address gum disease is essential. General dentists undergo many years of training in order to learn how to provide their patients with optimal dental care services. One of the more important services they offer is dental check-ups, as this type of dental appointment is one that can help prevent a…
Dental X-rays are done very routinely for most people that go in to visit their dentist. They are an important part of visiting the dentist! Dental X-rays allow for a dentist to see parts of the mouth and teeth that might not be visible by just looking directly into the mouth. Having dental X-rays taken…
We can perform a deep dental cleaning in order to treat your gum disease. We have found that many of our patients visit our dentist office looking for a solution to treat their gingivitis or gum disease after speaking with other dentists who talked about invasive methods, which they are concerned about undergoing. For example,…
One of the most powerful advancements in laser dentistry is the fact that we can now use lasers to perform the standard root canal operation. While most people prefer to refer to a root canal procedure such as root canal therapy, we know that many of our patients are terrified at the prospect of needing…
Dental fillings are one of the oldest known methods of dental restoration. Dentists have been placing dental fillings for years as a way to stop damage and restore an unhealthy tooth. However, as modern dentistry has begun to take over, certain types of dental fillings are beginning to die out. Silver dental fillings were originally made…
Composite bonding is one of the many treatments that might be used as part of your smile makeover. The procedure is often used to fix cosmetic problems such as discolored, cracked or chipped teeth. Dental bonding involves applying composite resin to the affected tooth to restore or improve its appearance.Composite bonding is a versatile treatment…