Representative photo of a mouthwash (Pixabay)
The research, published in the Journal of Oral Medicine and Dental Research on April 20, revealed that COVID-19 patients with gum disease were 3.5 times more likely to be admitted to the intensive care unit, 4.5 times more likely need a ventilator, and 8.8 times more likely to die than those without gum disease.
To conduct the study, researchers followed 568 patients with COVID-19.
The researchers said dental plaque accumulation and periodontal inflammation further intensify the chance of SARS-CoV-2 virus reaching the lungs, causing more severe cases of the infection.
“[Daily] oral hygiene and oral healthcare should be prioritized as such measures could be potentially lifesaving for COVID-19 patients,” the study read.
Could good oral hygiene improve COVID-19 outcomes?
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