Is there a connection between gum disease and COVID?

This study from the Journal of Clinical Periodontology, 1, was pretty eye-catching…⁣
⁣
“COVID-19 patients are at least three times more likely to experience complications if they also have gum disease,” according to the study authors.⁣
⁣
More stats… gum disease patients are:⁣
– 3.5 x more likely to need intensive care⁣
– 4.5 x more likely to need a ventilator⁣
⁣
While the president of the European Federation of Periodontology (the parent org of this scientific journal) asserted that “oral care should be part of the health recommendations to reduce the risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes,” I would also argue that gum disease can also be a signal that more extensive gut dysbiosis is present and may also be playing a role in the increased risk. Correction of both would seem prudent, and usually relatively straightforward.⁣

Link to study here.