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

A study recently published in the Journal of Periodontology has found an association between poor periodontal health and severity of COVID-19 illness. In a sample of 128 study participants, 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 associated with COVID-19, and be at risk for death compared to those patients with good oral health. Participants in the prospective observational study ranged in age from 20 to 97, and results were adjusted for age and the presence of other health problems. Click here to read more.