COVID-19 and Your Oral Health

Did you know there are oral complications associated with a COVID-19 infection?  These are largely unreported most likely due to the fact that they are not fatal or dangerous.

Here are some of the most common oral symptoms:

Loss of taste and smell

Dry mouth

Excessive saliva

Rashes in the mouth

Oral ulcers

Angular cheilitis

Bad breath

 

  • Dry mouth and loss of taste and smell are some of the most common reported symptoms of a COVID-19 infection.  These can be some of the first and only symptoms exhibited in some cases.
  • Excessive saliva can contribute to issues like angular cheilitis (inflammation of the corners of the mouth), since the salivary enzymes in excess saliva can irritate the skin.
  • Bad bread is also a symptom because the COVID-19 virus can cause changes to the surface of the tongue and the chemicals in the saliva.  These changes may lead to the development of chronic bad breath.
  • Oral ulcers and mouth rashes have been reported by several patients who have tested positive for COVID-19.  A rash can also be present on the upper palate of the mouth.  Oral rashes are not uncommon and are commonly associated with viral infections and the rashes found in COVID-19 patients are consistent with those patterns.

 

One of the problems with treating and detecting a COVID-19 infection is that no two people seem to have the same exact symptoms.  We, at Hannon and Sandler, are becoming more aware of the variety of oral symptoms associated with COVID-19 and are assisting in detect otherwise asymptomatic cases in our patients.  Come see us with any oral issues you are having and we will check it out!