Can good oral health reduces risk from COVID-19?

We'd like to share a new international study led by McGill researchers  published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology on 02/01/2021. 

The study suggests that gum disease may be associated with higher risks of complications from COVID-19, including ICU admission and death.

Researchers discovered that COVID-19 patients with gum disease were 3.5 times more likely to be admitted to the intensive care unit, 4.5 times more likely to need a ventilator, and 8.8 times more likely to die when comparing to those without gum disease. Until now, no other research has been published about the destructive effects of gum disease in patients with COVID-19.

The study also found that blood levels of biomarkers which indicate inflammation in the body were significantly higher in COVID-19 patients with gum disease, which may explain the higher rates of complications for those patients.

To learn more, visit: mcgill.ca or onlinelibrary.wiley.com