Gum disease and the link with Covid-19

COVID-19 delta variant currently has almost all hospitals in Texas at full capacity.

Almost everyone knows that underlying medical conditions (comorbidities) make COVID-19 hospitalization, need for respirator, and death more likely. Several of these are obesity, diabetes, blood pressure issues, lung diseases, and cardiovascular disease.

Another study from this year show that patients with periodontitis were 3.5 times more likely to need to be hospitalized, 4.5 times more likely to need to be put on a respirator, and 8.8 times more likely to die from COVID-19 than those without it.

Briefly, gum disease starts by only affecting the gums (gingivitis) but in most people, especially those over 40 years old, gingivitis progresses to periodontitis which destroys the bone around the teeth. Periodontitis is the most common reason for people to lose all their teeth but that’s not all.

It has been known for years that the chronic infection and inflammation of periodontitis make people more susceptible to diabetes, heart disease, stroke, pneumonia, dementia and erectile dysfunction among others, What is new, however, is the relationship to COVID-19 described above.

What are the signs of periodontitis? They are: red, often puffy gums that bleed easily, loose or shifting teeth; chronic bad breath; and previous tooth loss not due to cavities.

How is it treated? Periodontitis is treated both non-surgically (often called a deep cleaning) and surgically (either laser or conventional). Any treatment is better than none, but non-surgical is preferred for mild cases where there has not been much bone loss.

For moderate or severe cases, where there has been much bone loss, surgical treatment is far better. The laser version is called LANAP and is what I offer. If the patient wants to see a periodontist (specialist) some do LANAP and some due conventional surgery. Teeth that have a poor prognosis should be removed to improve the prognosis for the others.

Finally, if you have not been immunized doing so will reduce the severe cases of COVID-19 but it does not guarantee it. No vaccine is 100% effective. If you have comorbidities make sure they are being managed. If you haven’t seen your dentist lately or if you suspect you may have periodontal disease, see our dentist.

Don’t wait till it hurts because by then it is very severe.