Oral Hygiene and Long-term COVID Study

Oral hygiene is important as oral microorganisms are linked to long-term COVID among the elderly, suggests a new study published in the Journal of Dentistry.

A study was done to describe acute and long-term COVID-19 symptoms among older elderly Swedes and to find predictive factors for the development of symptoms associated with acute and long-term COVID-19. A questionnaire about general and oral health was mailed to all 80-year-olds (born 1942, n = 6299) and 90-year-olds (born 1932, n = 1904) in two Swedish counties. Participants reporting COVID-19 were asked to complete an additional questionnaire.

Results

Overall response rate was 66% (n = 5375). Affirmative responses to having been sick/tested positive for COVID-19 were reported by 577 persons. The response rate to the COVID-19 questionnaire was 49%. Most (88%) reported some general symptoms during the acute stage while 44% reported orofacial symptom/s. Reporting of long-COVID general symptoms was 37% and 35% for orofacial symptoms.

Predictive Factors

Predictive factors for contracting COVID-19 (based on self-report from 2017) were:

• Living in an elderly housing/senior care facility
• Large number (>10) of weekly social contacts
• Being married
• High school/university education

The highest odds ratio for general symptoms of long-term COVID was a single complete denture, reporting bad breath, and daytime dry mouth. Regarding long-term orofacial symptoms, the highest risk factors were bad breath and a single complete denture in one jaw.

Long-COVID general and orofacial symptoms are common among older elderly COVID-19 survivors. Oral microorganisms may be responsible for the development of long-COVID symptoms. Health personnel managing COVID-19 patients should carefully examine dental status, especially those with acrylic-based removable dentures, for oral signs and symptoms. If found, rigorous oral hygiene procedures should be carried out including cleaning/disinfection of the denture.

Reference

Ann-Katrin Johansson, Ridwaan Omar, Sverre Lehmann, Josefin Sannevik, Berit Mastrovito, Anders Johansson. General and orofacial symptoms associated with acute and long COVID in 80- and 90-year-old Swedish COVID-19 survivors. Journal of Dentistry, Volume 141, 2024, 104824, ISSN 0300-5712. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdent.2023.104824. (ScienceDirect)

Keywords

• Oral hygiene
• Oral microorganisms
• Long COVID
• COVID elderly
• Journal of Dentistry
• Ageing
• Corona
• Denture
• Dry mouth
• Halitosis
• Questionnaire
• Ann-Katrin Johansson
• Ridwaan Omar
• Sverre Lehmann
• Josefin Sannevik
• Berit Mastrovito
• Anders Johansson