Covid-19 infection does not just limit to affecting your lungs, but can also enter other organs too, which can cause certain symptoms. One of the most important organs which shows visible symptoms of COVID infection is when the virus enters your body and then mouth. Many people have reported the complications of Covid extending to their mouth and teeth. Onlymyhealth editorial team spoke to Dr. Rashmi Tarachandani, Consultant General Physician, Meddo Rashmi Clinic, to know about the symptoms and treatment for Covid teeth.
How does COVID-19 affect your teeth?
When SARS-CoV-2 virus enters through the nose and other respiratory parts, it can get mixed up in the bloodstream and flows into your blood through a receptor called AEC2. This receptor plays the role of an entrance for the virus to damage the cells. The maximum amount of receptors that in the body is found in the mouth, particularly in the tongue and gums region. People who have poor dental health can have more of these AEC2 receptors, which proved the relationship between COVID and oral health.
According to a recent study, researchers found out that around 75 percent of the total participants who were hospitalised because of Covid infection and were diagnosed with poor oral health. This can be also because of the fact that dental health problems also come under chronic health conditions which puts the patient at a higher risk of catching the virus infection.
Also read: What Are The Risk Factors That Trigger Severe COVID-19 Complications?
Covid teeth symptoms
There are several visible symptoms of Covid teeth that can be easily seen in your mouth or gums when Coronavirus enters your oral health. According to Dr. Rashmi, the main symptoms of Covid teeth are:
- Gum pain
- Blood clotting in gums
- Fever and persistent cough
- Jaw and tooth pain
- Extreme fatigue
Ways to cope up from Covid teeth
COVID-19 infection can affect the whole body including your teeth. An individual has to be much more careful about his dental health. Patients who previously got infected by Covid should consult their doctor for regular checkups. There is still a lot of research aboud the impact of Coronavirus on dental health but there are many studies that can support this argument. Here are ways to cope up from Covid teeth:
1. Cleaning
One must follow a strict dental care routine for maintaining dental health after covid. Brushing teeth two times a day, accompanied with regular flossing and mouth wash can already help in you in getting a brighter healthier smile. Keep your oral health in check to avoid the complication of Covid teeth.
Also read: Difficult To Manage Dental Health Due To Busy Schedule? Here Are 7 Expert Advised Hacks Just For You
2. Massage
Massages can prove to be very helpful for our teeth as well as gums. It helps in removing plague and increases blood flow in our gums. It also helps in re establishing grip on our teeth. You can start with using salt and turmeric, it may feel a little sore, so we must take care not to put extra pressure or we might injure our gums instead.
These were the symptoms and ways to deal with Covid teeth. In rare cases, a person infected with Covid can also suffer from a dental infection, such as oral thrush. In such a situation, it is advised to immediately visit a doctor and use some antifungal medicine to control the severe condition of your oral health.
