Post-COVID is a life-altering condition that impacts your quality of life. Unfortunately, the condition can also affect your oral health. Addressing the most challenging symptoms and keeping up with your dental hygiene appointments and check-ups can help improve your oral health and manage the condition.
Understanding Post-COVID
Post-COVID, also known as long COVID, is a chronic condition that may develop after you have a COVID-19 infection. Your doctor may diagnose you if you have symptoms that affect one or more organs or systems and last at least three months after infection, including fatigue, headaches, sleep problems, ongoing cough, rash, and other issues. Some people have a higher risk of developing post-COVID, especially those who had severe illness and were hospitalized or had underlying health conditions.
There are over 200 reported symptoms of post-COVID, making it a complex condition. Some people develop oral health problems, including gum disease, mouth ulcers, blisters, and altered taste.
There are two types of gum disease: gingivitis, which causes swollen, red, tender, bleeding gums, and periodontitis, where gums and bones break down and infections develop. Post-COVID seems to cause ongoing gingivitis or red and swollen gums, and some people develop necrotizing gingivitis, a sudden, rare gum infection that causes painful ulcers or sores.
Your saliva glands produce vital fluid that protects and heals your mouth and defends against germs and infections. However, saliva glands are a specific infection site for the COVID virus. After an infection, your glans may have less ability to produce saliva, causing a dry mouth. A lack of saliva eventually leads to sores and tooth decay.
Without a healthy saliva flow, naturally existing organisms within your mouth can grow out of control, causing infections like thrush. These infections may cause white plaques on your tongue, cheeks, and roof of your mouth. In addition, without fluid to nourish your tissues, inflammation may develop and lead to ulcers and blisters.
Loss of or altered taste is a hallmark symptom of COVID-19. However, for some people, the virus lingers in the tongue and taste bud cells for up to 18 months after infection, causing unhealthy tissues. The old taste bud cells die off, but the new cells are smaller and misshapen, leading to taste changes and persistent symptoms.
Healthy post-COVID-19 dental practices can help you manage your symptoms and encourage recovery, including regular appointments with your dentist and good oral care.
Regular dental hygiene appointments are essential to monitor your oral health, post-COVID symptoms, and progress. Complications like gum disease, dry mouth, and sores can lead to further complications without treatment and management. With regular cleanings, you can better manage bacteria and plaque and catch concerns early on.
Your oral hygiene routine is vital to managing your post-COVID symptoms and overall dental health. Brush and floss your teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, and watch for symptoms of infections, such as white patches, cracks in the corner of your mouth, and a sore tongue. Your dentist can prescribe medication to help manage these conditions.
Living with post-COVID can take its toll, but our specialist team at Family Dental Care is here to help. Manage complex symptoms with individualized treatment, innovative technology, and advanced solutions. Book an appointment and discover your options.