Does COVID-19 Affect Your Teeth and Mouth?

COVID and dental health Alexandria

You’ve probably heard that COVID19 can make patients lose their sense of taste and smell. Hopefully, you haven’t experienced that yourself. Let’s consider other oral dilemmas linked to COVID-19.

Dry Mouth is as Common as Loss of Taste

A cohort of Brazilian scientists led by University of Brasilia researcher E.N.S. Guerra analyzed more than 180 studies of COVID patients and found that 43% of patients experience dry mouth. That’s slightly higher than the percentage that reported loss of taste. The 43% of patients that experienced oral health issues amounted to 65,000 people.

Loss of Taste Comes in Many Flavors

The research also found that men and women with COVID can have a reduced sense of taste (hypogueusia); a distorted sense of taste, in which everything tastes sweet, sour, bitter or metallic (dysgeusia); or a full loss of all taste (ageusia).

Researchers also learned that these conditions seemed to be more common among European COVID patients. However, only a third of U.S. patients and a quarter of Latin American patients reported them. The scientists couldn’t identify the cause of the disparity, but further research may provide clues.

Lesions and sores on or under the tongue were also reported.

“Regarding COVID-19 patients specifically, the important message is to maintain healthy oral health habits during their illness if they are able to do so. Dry mouth significantly increases the risk for tooth decay, so brushing twice a day with a fluoridated toothpaste, flossing once a day, limiting snacking, and avoiding sugary foods and drinks are the best ways to maintain their oral health.” Dr. Edmond Hewlett, a spokesman for the American Dental Association who reviewed the research.

It’s Time to Get Your Dental Health Back on Track

Have you stayed away from the dentist due to the pandemic? Did you know that poor oral health puts you at greater risk of health complications from a wide range of diseases, including the coronavirus? We invite you to schedule a cleaning and examination. You can rest assured that we follow rigorous safety protocols to protect our patients and staff.

Contact Mt. Vernon Center For Dentistry:

703-360-5881

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

8101 Hinson Farm Rd Ste 114
Alexandria, Virginia
22306

Alexandria dentists, Dr. James Geren and Dr. Zeyad Mady, of Mt. Vernon Center for Dentistry, provide provide exceptional cosmetic dentistry, dental implants, sedation dentistry, family dentistry and more for the Alexandria and Mount Vernon, VA area, including the communities of Woodbridge, Fort Belvoir, Newington, Old Town, Franconia, Rose Hill, Lorton, Huntington and Groveton, Virginia and zip codes 22306, 22308, and 22309.
Office Hours: Mt. Vernon Center for Dentistry
Mon 8:00am-5:00pm
Tue 7:00am-3:00pm
Wed 7:00am-3:00pm
Thu 7:00am-3:00pm
Fri 7:00am-12:00pm
Open Every Friday
Center for Dental Anesthesia
Mon 7:00am-3:00pm
Tue 7:00am-3:00pm
Wed 7:00am-3:00pm
Thu 7:00am-3:00pm
Fri 7:00am-12:00pm
Open Every Other Friday

TEXT OUR OFFICE

Text message is limited to 160 characters.

HOW IT WORKS

  1. Enter your Name.
  2. Enter your Cell Phone Number, area code first
  3. Enter your text message in the box.
  4. Click "Send Text"
  5. A copy of this text will be sent to the office and to your cell phone. The office's reply will also be sent to your cell phone where you can continue the text conversation.
Note: Mobile message and data rates from your cell phone carrier may apply.Close ClickToCall Button
Call
Text
Email
Schedule
NagiosCheckValue - Do not remove please