London, April 21 (PTI) Simple oral hygiene measures can help reduce the risk of transmission of the new coronavirus from the mouth to the lungs and prevent serious cases of COVID-19, according to a study.
The research, published in the Journal of Oral Medicine and Dental Research, shows that there is evidence that specific ingredients of inexpensive and widely available mouthwash products are very effective in inactivating the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19.
The researchers noted that the coronavirus can be transmitted through saliva in the lungs of humans by moving the virus directly from the mouth to the bloodstream – especially if individuals suffer from gum disease.
Evidence shows that blood vessels in the lungs, rather than airways, are initially affected in COVID-19 lung diseases with high concentrations of the virus in saliva and periodontitis associated with increased risk of death.
The researchers suggest that the accumulation of dental plaque and periodontal inflammation further intensifies the likelihood that the SARS-CoV-2 virus will reach the lungs and cause worse cases of the infection.
Experts believe that this discovery could potentially make effective oral health care a life-saving action. They recommend that the public take daily steps to maintain oral hygiene and reduce factors contributing to gum disease, such as plaque buildup.
Initial observations of CT scans of the lungs of patients suffering from COVID-19 lung diseases have led to a collaboration between medical and dental researchers on the possible access pathway in the bloodstream.
“This model can help us understand why some individuals develop COVID-19 lung disease and others do not,” said co-author of the study, Iain Chapple, a professor at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom.
“It can also change the way we manage the virus – change cheap or even free oral treatments and ultimately save lives,” Chapple said.
The researchers noticed that gum disease makes the gums delicious so that microorganisms can enter the bloodstream.
Simple measures – such as careful toothbrushing and interdental brushing to reduce plaque buildup, along with specific mouthwashes, or even saline flushing to reduce gingivitis – can help reduce the viral concentration in saliva.
According to the researchers, it can also help alleviate the development of lung diseases and reduce the risk of deterioration to severe COVID-19.
The new model is based on the mouth providing a breeding ground for the virus to thrive, with any violation in the immune system that orally makes it easier for the virus into the bloodstream.
The researchers said the virus travels through the blood vessels in the gums and through the neck and chest veins. It reaches the heart before being pumped into pulmonary arteries and small vessels in the lung base and periphery.
“Studies are urgently needed to further investigate this new model, but daily oral hygiene and plaque control will not only improve oral health and well-being, but can also be life-saving in the context of the pandemic,” Chapple said. PTI HSR SAR SAR