Oral Hygiene during the period we are living
It is already common knowledge that the pandemic and the resulting restrictive measures have led to the worsening and emergence of various health problems, with oral health being no exception.
There have been many changes resulting from all the pandemic control measures. The successive lockdowns and movement restrictions contributed to changes in daily habits and behaviors, affecting people’s oral health.
Additional Complications Caused by the Pandemic
Some people neglected their oral hygiene and diet, started eating more frequently between meals, and postponed or canceled dental visits. And today, a year after interruptions to dental care and treatment, dentists are facing the consequences of the pandemic on oral health.
We are facing a higher incidence of dental cavities and more advanced gum diseases, and consequently, a growing need for more invasive interventions such as extractions. This stems from the fact that oral problems that were not considered urgent during the pandemic outbreak became urgent after waiting two or more months for proper treatment.
Dentists have always followed the most rigorous infection prevention and control protocols, emphasizing that the hygiene measures required by the government during the COVID-19 pandemic were reviewed and meticulously followed. Additionally, recent research indicates that oral health professionals have significantly lower SARS-CoV-2 infection rates than other healthcare professionals in most of the world.
Nevertheless, many people still avoid routine appointments due to fear and only go to the dentist as a last resort. In addition to the fear of possible contamination, financial difficulties and the reduction in the number of appointments contribute to the delay in seeking professional help.
Another problematic effect of the pandemic is the stress and fatigue environment that has led to an increase in cases of bruxism (clenching or grinding teeth), which not only compromises and harms sleep quality but can also cause tension headaches, muscle contractions, and dental fractures.
Efeitos de uma boa Higiene Oral
Maintaining oral health is extremely important to ensure overall health, well-being, and quality of life and, according to a new study, proper and correct oral hygiene may help reduce the severity of COVID-19 symptoms.
According to the study by Graham Lloyd-Jones et. al., 2021 and the official publication of the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP), patients with COVID-19 are three times more likely to experience complications if they have gum disease. These articles suggest that the gums may play a key role in the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus from the oral cavity to the lungs, potentially causing or worsening the lung disease caused by it.
Although there have been advances in treatments and vaccination for the global population, there is still limited knowledge about the reasons for the clinical variability of the disease. There is still debate about the lack of biomarkers to identify individuals at risk of developing lung disease from COVID-19 or worsening into severe lung disease that may lead to admission to intensive care, mechanical ventilation, or even death.
Dr. Graham Lloyd-Jones, consultant radiologist at Salisbury District Hospital in the UK, reviewed lung CT scans of patients with COVID-19 lung disease, leading to a collaboration between medical researchers and dentists on a new hypothesis of SARS-CoV-2 transmission.
This model describes the potential route of virus entry through the mouth and bloodstream to the lungs, which may help explain why some individuals develop COVID-19 lung disease while others do not.
In summary, the researchers suggest that this is the route through which the severe acute respiratory syndrome SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted to the lungs, where it causes lung disease; explaining that the virus enters the body through the upper airways – nose and mouth – accumulates in saliva and lodges in the bacterial plaque under the gums. It then crosses the gum and enters the blood vessels, reaching the heart before being pumped into the pulmonary arteries and small vessels at the base and periphery of the lung, rather than reaching the lungs through the respiratory airways.
Furthermore, the authors emphasize the concept that gum diseases predispose to the weakening of the mucosal barrier, and in this way, the gum tissues allow microorganisms, particularly the virus, to thrive and breach oral immune defenses, entering the bloodstream more easily. In other words, increased dental plaque and periodontal inflammation further increase the likelihood of the SARS-CoV-2 virus reaching the lungs and causing more severe infection cases.
Prevention
In this regard, an international team of researchers found emerging evidence that specific ingredients in some mouthwash products widely available on the market are highly effective in inactivating the SARS-CoV-2 virus; substances such as CPC (Cetylpyridinium chloride) or PVP-I (Povidone-iodine or Iodopovidone).
Therefore, this highly plausible new hypothetical model may help understand and discern individuals more likely to develop severe lung disease, as well as alter how we manage the virus by helping explore simple and low-cost treatments targeting the oral cavity that could ultimately save lives.
Medidas de Higiene que tomos podemos seguir
Therefore, simple daily oral hygiene measures, such as careful brushing including complementary tools like dental floss, in addition to being effective in maintaining oral hygiene and reducing contributing factors to gum inflammation, such as increased plaque buildup, along with the use of specific mouthwashes, can help reduce the concentration of the virus in saliva, thereby helping to mitigate the development of lung diseases and reduce the risk of developing severe COVID-19.
So, don’t forget, prioritize your oral hygiene as it not only improves your oral health and overall well-being but can also save your life!
