Simple oral hygiene could help reduce the severity of COVID-19, the study says

COVID-19 could pass into people’s lungs from saliva, with the virus moving directly from the mouth to the blood – especially if individuals suffer from gum disease, according to new research.

Evidence shows that the blood vessels of the lungs, rather than the airways, are initially affected in COVID-19 lung disease with high concentrations of virus in saliva and periodontitis associated with an increased risk of death.

Researchers suggest that plaque buildup and periodontal inflammation further increase the likelihood that the SARS-CoV-2 virus will reach the lungs and cause more severe cases of infection.

Experts say the discovery could make effective oral care a life-saving action – recommending the public take simple but effective daily measures to maintain oral hygiene and reduce factors that contribute to gum disease, such as buildup. plate.

An international team of researchers from the UK, South Africa and the United States today published their findings in Journal of Oral Medicine and Dental Research. They note emerging evidence that the specific ingredients of cheap and widely available mouthwashes are extremely effective in inactivating the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Simple oral hygiene measures, including the use of these specific mouthwash products, could help reduce the risk of transmitting the virus from the mouth to the lungs to those with COVID-19 and can help prevent severe cases of infection.

Initial observations of lung CT scans in patients with COVID-19 lung disease by Dr. Graham Lloyd-Jones, a radiologist, led to a collaboration between medical researchers and dentists on the potential route of entry into the bloodstream.

Co-author Iain Chapple, a professor of periodontology at the University of Birmingham, commented: “This model can help us understand why some individuals develop COVID-19 lung disease and others do not. It could also change the way we manage the virus – exploring cheap or even free treatments that target the mouth and ultimately save lives.

“Gingival disease causes the gums to drain, allowing microorganisms to enter the bloodstream. Simple measures – such as careful brushing of teeth and interdental brushing to reduce plaque buildup, along with specific mouthwashes or even rinsing with salt water to reduce gingival inflammation – could help lower the virus’s saliva concentration and help alleviate it. the development of lung disease and the reduction of the risk of severe COVID-19 damage. “

The research team included experts from Salisbury District Hospital, UK; University of Birmingham, UK; and the Mouth-Body Research Institute, Los Angeles, California and Cape Town, South Africa.

Their new model is based on the mouth that provides a breeding ground for the virus to thrive, with any violation of oral immune defense facilitating the virus to enter the bloodstream. Passing through the blood vessels in the gums, the virus would pass through the throat and thoracic veins – reaching the heart before being pumped into the pulmonary arteries and small vessels at the base and periphery of the lungs.

“Emergency studies are needed to further investigate this new model, but in the meantime daily oral hygiene and plaque control will not only improve oral health and well-being, but could also save lives in the context of the pandemic,” added Professor Chapple. .

More information:
Graham Lloyd-Jones et al. COVID-19 pathway: a proposed oral-vascular-pulmonary route of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the importance of oral health measures. Journal of Oral Medicine & Dental Research (2021).