Study Finds Link Between Poor Oral Health and Severity Of COVID-19

A study appearing in the Journal of Periodontology has found an association between poor periodontal health and severity of COVID-19 illness. In a sample of 128 subjects, all of whom were hospitalized due to COVID-19, those with poor oral health — which was evaluated using the decayed, missing, and filled teeth index, perio­dontal assessment, and the Eichner index — were more likely to need treatment in the intensive care unit, experience the most severe symptoms, and be at greater risk for death compared to those with good oral health. Participants in the prospective observational study, “Poor Oral Health Status and Adverse COVID-19 Outcomes: A Preliminary Study in Hospitalized Patients,” ranged in age from 20 to 97, and results were adjusted for age and comorbidities.

From Decisions in Dentistry. May 2022;8(5):6.