Oral hygiene and severity of COVID-19 – the connection

British researchers have found a link between poor oral hygiene and severity of COVID-19 disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. The study from researchers  collaborated to find the connection between the severity of the infection and poor oral hygiene. Their study titled, “Could there be a link between oral hygiene and the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infections?” was published in the latest issue of the journal.

The COVID-19 pandemic

Since December last year, there have been steadily increasing numbers of SARS-CoV-2 or novel coronavirus infection that causes COVID-19 diesase. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a global emergency on the 30^th of January 2020 and, on the 11^th of March 2020, declared it a pandemic when this highly contagious virus infected populations across the world. As of today, globally, 10,434,385 people have been infected and there have been 509,779 deaths attributed to the virus around the world due to this infection.

What was this study about?

Researchers to date have identified several risk factors that are associated with severe COVID-19 course of disease and outcome. While many patients infected with the virus recover without complications, some may need hospitalization, oxygen supplementation, and even ventilation. Some of the risk factors associated with poor outcome of the disease include high blood pressure, diabetes obesity, and heart disease. The team of researchers explains that 52 percent of the deaths due to COVID-19 also occur in healthy individuals, and the cause behind this is unclear. They wrote that the main complications of COVID-19 include “blood clots, pneumonia, sepsis, septic shock, and ARDS (Acute respiratory distress syndrome).” These complications are seen mainly among those with comorbidities and bacterial overload, they wrote.

Bacteria and COVID-19 outcome

The team speculates that there may be a connection between SARS- CoV-2 infection and “bacterial load.” They tried to explore if high levels of bacteria or bacterial superinfections and complications of bacterial infections such as pneumonia, sepsis, and respiratory distress syndrome could be associated with poor outcome from COVID-19.

Oral hygiene and COVID-19

This study explored the complications of COVID-19 seen among those with poor oral health and periodontal disease. The oral microbiome or the microbial flora of the mouth was explored and its connection with the COVID-19 outcome was analyzed. The authors wrote, “We explore the connection between high bacterial load in the mouth and post-viral complications, and how improving oral health may reduce the risk of complications from COVID-19.”

The authors of the study wrote that during lung infection, there is a risk of aspirating the oral secretions into the lungs, which could cause infection. Some of the bacteria present in the mouth that could cause such infections include “Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Prevotella intermedia,” they wrote. They explained that periodontitis or infection of the gums is one of the most prevalent causes of harmful bacteria in the mouth. These bacteria lead to the formation of cytokines such as Interleukin 1 (IL1) and Tumor necrosis factor (TNF), which can be detected in the saliva and can reach the lungs leading to infection within them. Thus, the researchers wrote, “inadequate oral hygiene can increase the risk of inter-bacterial exchanges between the lungs and the mouth, increasing the risk of respiratory infections and potentially post-viral bacterial complications.”

Results of the study

The team wrote, “Good oral hygiene has been recognized as a means to prevent airway infections in patients, especially in those over the age of 70”. Those with periodontal disease are at a 25 percent raised risk of heart disease, thrice the risk of getting diabetes, and 20 percent raised risk of getting high blood pressure, the researchers wrote. These are all risk factors of severe COVID-19 they wrote.

Conclusions and implications

This study concludes that 20 percent of the patients with COVID-19 progress to severe illness with high levels of “inflammatory markers (IL-2, IL-6, IL-10), bacteria, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte count”. They noted that the oral microbial environment and COVID-19 could be linked. The four essential risk factors for severe COVID-19, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and obesity, are also associated with poor oral hygiene, they wrote. They recommend “oral hygiene be maintained, if not improved, during a SARS-CoV-2 infection in order to reduce the bacterial load in the mouth and the potential risk of bacterial superinfection.” These precautions are particularly important for those with diabetes, heart disease hypertension, they wrote.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

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Dentists urge old people to take care of their teeth

Dental and medical experts suggest elderly people to be more vigilant about their health: oral health as it is a critical component to overall health. In a review article published in the journal the authors outlined the potential complications that can arise from poor oral hygiene in older adults and cited the role of all health care professionals in working to promote good oral hygiene in this population.

"All health care professionals should work to promote good oral hygiene for their older patients," said the lead author of the article. They "should consider an oral examination during an annual wellness visit, especially for those patients who are not receiving regular dental care."

The need is evident, said the authors. Data from the National Centre for Health Statistics indicates that the prevalence of cavities is more than twice as high in older adults as for younger adults. The prevalence of periodontitis a serious gum infection that damages the soft tissue and destroys the bone that supports your teeth also increases with age. As many as 64 per cent of older adults in the US have periodontitis.

It is well recognised that manipulation of teeth and their support structures can result in bacteria present in the oral cavity being released into the bloodstream, which may lead to infections in parts of the body far removed from the oral cavity, they wrote. "Even tooth brushing for those who have poor oral hygiene can cause bacteria to be released into the bloodstream and these bacteria can potentially cause joint infections and heart valve infections," said Coll.

Without good oral hygiene, the use of fluoride, and regular dental care, older adults are more prone to damage to the oral cavity and the extension of infection into surrounding tissues. Tooth loss, for instance, can affect a person's ability to chew, which can lead to malnutrition. Chronic oral infection is a recognized risk factor for heart disease, and can also lead to the spread of infection to artificial joints and endocardial implants. The experts recommended that all older adults should have biannual dental cleaning performed by a hygientist and a biannual oral health assessment by their dentist.

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Oral Cancer- Risk Factors, Prevention

Risk factors for developing oral cancers

Oral cancer is cancer that develops in any part of the mouth, including the lips, tongue, cheeks, sinuses, pharynx, hard and soft palate, etc. Tobacco use is one of the biggest risk factors for oral cancer. These include cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco, as well as snuff. People who consume large amounts of alcohol also have a higher risk of neck and head cancer.
Other risk factors for oral cancer include - a weakened immune system, a family history of oral or other types of cancer, being male, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, prolonged sun exposure, age, poor oral hygiene, poor diet or nutrition, etc.

How to prevent oral cancer

Oral cancer can be treated successfully if detected early. While there is no proven way to completely prevent oral cancer, certain lifestyle changes can reduce your risk of developing the disease. These include:

• Do not use tobacco, if you do use it, take immediate steps to quit.
• Consume alcohol in moderation.
• Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun - use lip balms with SPF of 30 or higher.
• Eat a healthy diet, including plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, while avoiding or limiting the intake of junk and processed food.

Evidence suggests that people who make healthier lifestyle choices such as eating a nutritious diet, getting regular exercise, have a lower risk of developing cancer of all types.

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CAUSES OF BLEEDING GUMS

If your gums are bleeding when you floss or brush your teeth, you have periodontal disease, commonly known as gum disease. It’s a contagious bacterial infection that can wreak havoc on your health. In your mouth, it can destroy your gums, erode your jawbone, and cause tooth loss (gum disease is the main reason teeth fall out).“There are two fronts to bleeding gums. The plaque, which is a biofilm of bacteria and its waste products, first creates the irritation to the gum tissue. Then there’s the body’s reaction to that wounding, the inflammatory response. Put those two factors together and you’ve got inflamed, bleeding gums. The longer you have inflammation, the more at risk you are for all kinds of systemic illnesses, everything from allergies to cancers.
Gum disease is really common.By certain habits, you can significantly decrease your risk of gum disease, and even stop it in its tracks. Below are 6 reasons your gums are bleeding, and what you can do about it.

1. Your Oral Hygiene is Subpar 

 Inadequate oral hygiene results in visible plaque on the teeth and red swollen gums. Research has shown that healthy gums can become diseased within just 24-36 hours of not brushing or caring for your teeth.

Your best bet is to take care of your teeth, and the following tools can help make your job a lot easier:
• An electric toothbrush: Automatic brushers massage the gums to stimulate blood flow, brings nutrients to the tissue, and removes toxins.
• Anti-bacterial mouth wash and toothpaste: These will significantly reduce the number of bacteria in your mouth.
• Oral probiotic mints: These dissolve in the mouth and help to prevent tooth decay, while whitening teeth along the way. 

2. Your Diet is in the Dumps
Eating processed food is just as bad for your teeth as it is for your waistline. A Dr. states that “a diet with at least six to 8 fist-sized servings of fruits and vegetables, along with nutritional supplements of calcium, vitamin D, vitamin C, magnesium, and anti-inflammatory such as fish oil, are all critical building blocks of oral health.” Eating a balanced diet boosts the integrity of your immune system and nourishes the soft tissues, which are most vulnerable in the body.

3. You Haven’t Quit Smoking

Smokers are at much higher risk of gum disease due to all the toxins in cigarettes, which create inflammation and decrease the body’s immune response. “Once the gums show signs of bleeding, the dangerous bacteria that live between the tooth and the gumline are able to slip through the ulcerated gums and move directly into the bloodstream – this can wreak havoc on every organ in the body, especially the heart and blood vessels,” says Dr.

4. You’ve Got an Unbalanced Bite
If you have crooked and crowded teeth as well as grinding and clenching habits, you may have what is known as “bite disease.” Basically, destructive forces are being applied to your teeth and the supporting gum tissue and bone. When you bite too hard in one area, it causes the gum to recede and the bone to begin deteriorating, making a prime spot for gum disease to appear.

5. Your Meds are Meddling

 Some medications may interfere with blood flow to tissues or hamper saliva flow, leading to a drier mouth and less protection for the gums. Enlargement or thickening of gum tissue and dry mouth cause gum tissues to be more susceptible to the presence of plaque, increasing gum disease progression. You should get into the habit of asking your doctor or pharmacist if the meds you’re taking could affect your gums or cause a dry mouth.

  6. You’ve Been Kissing and Sharing
Gum disease can be transferred from one person to another via saliva, which means drinking from the same cup, sharing utensils, and kissing can increase your risk of gum disease. This is one area where sharing definitely is not caring.

  this is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.                                                                                                             https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations                                   https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes                 https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement