Why good oral health is even more essential to protect yourself during the pandemic

March 22, 2021

With vaccines bow becoming more available, we’re hopefully seeing the light at the end of the tunnel of the COVID-19 pandemic. But we recently came across new research that reminds us we still have the stay vigilant.

You know that good oral health is important all the time. But making sure your mouth is in tip-top health is absolutely critical now. Researchers are discovering worrying links between gum disease and serious complications from COVID-19.

Read the research

COVID-19 patients are at least three times more likely to experience complications if they also have gum disease, according to the research published in February in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology,¹ the official publication of the European Federation of Periodontology (EEP).

The study of more than 500 patients with COVID-19 found that those with gum disease were 3.5 times more likely to be admitted to intensive care, 4.5 times more likely to need a ventilator, and almost nine times more likely to die compared to those without gum disease.

The mouth is the gateway to the body

Professor Nicola West, European Federation of Periodontology secretary general, points out: “This study highlights another association between gum disease and our systemic health and reiterates the need for ongoing, lifelong dental care for people susceptible to gum disease and a strong preventive approach to periodontitis for populations as a whole.”

What you can do to prevent gum disease:

• Brush your teeth carefully more than once a day using a manual or powered toothbrush.
• Clean between your teeth daily using an interdental brush (or floss if the gaps are too tight).
• Do not smoke, maintain a healthy weight, eat a balanced diet, exercise, reduce stress.
• If you have diabetes, control your blood sugar.

Add a powerful measure of prevention

ProBioraPlus and ProBioraXtra repopulate your naturally occurring beneficial bacteria, which crowd out harmful bacteria that can lead to cavities, gingivitis or periodontal disease.