COVID-19 patients with periodontitis, a severe gum disease that can lead to tooth loss and other complications, are almost nine times more likely to die of complications from the virus, according to study published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology.
Three things to know:
1. In a study of 568 COVID-19 patients, researchers found that those with periodontitis were also more likely to end up in the ICU and on a ventilator.
2. Periodontitis was also associated with increased blood levels of biomarkers linked to worse disease outcomes, according to the study.
3. Similarly, a study published in the Journal of the California Dental Association in October, found that controlling periodontal inflammation could benefit the lungs and reduce the risk of COVID-19 respiratory problems.
Click here for more details on the study.