Pandemic teeth?

It has been approximately one year since the entire globe has been dealing with COVID-19. Everyone has been directly affected whether it be illness, family loss, work changes, and/or a plethora of medical problems associated with the viral infection.

It’s been well established by the medical community, throughout the pandemic, that COVID-19 mainly affects the lungs. Symptoms include fever, fatigue and breathing problems. Some patients have reported hair loss, COVID toes, rashes, and blood clots.

Currently, there have been more anecdotal reports coming in that the virus is affecting the oral health of many patients after being diagnosed or during their recovery. These reports include changes in gum tissue, sudden discoloration of teeth, teeth simply breaking, and teeth spontaneously falling out without any bleeding.

Much research needs to be done to confirm these reports but, when looking at the internal anatomy of teeth, this makes sense considering the coronavirus

directly affects the blood vessels within your entire body including teeth and jaws.

Your teeth and gum tissues are highly vascular and require ample blood flow to stay healthy, free of inflammation and infection. Any changes to these vessels can wreak havoc on a once healthy mouth.

There is also information being discovered that your mouth may help harbor the virus by attaching to ACE- 2 receptors. The other place these receptors are plentiful includes your lungs and other parts of the respiratory system.

Much of these not-so-common and unusual symptoms have been reported on the Facebook page, Survivor Corps HQ, which more than 115,000 people have joined. If you would like more information about these less common symptoms be sure to check it out!

Written by Dr. Eric L. Eby, D.D.S., M.A.G.D. His interests include crown and bridge, implant dentistry, and sleep apnea.