Tooth loss, dental issues could be latest symptoms linked to COVID
The lengthy list of symptoms linked to coronavirus may have a terrifying new addition: tooth loss.
At least three recovered COVID-19 patients — 2 adult women and a 12-year-old boy — have had a tooth fall out amid their recovery from the fast-spreading disease, according to The New York Times.
Earlier this month, Farah Khemili felt one of her bottom teeth wiggle when she popped a wintergreen breath mint into her mouth. Less than 24 hours later, the tooth fell out of her mouth and into her hand. There was no pain or blood afterward.
The 49-year-old from New York battled coronavirus in the spring and has since joined a Facebook support group with fellow “long haulers,” where she has discussed her symptoms with other surviving patients. And while tooth loss has not officially been linked to coronavirus, several other members of the social media page have shared similar experiences.
The founder of the online support group said her 12-year-old son similarly lost an adult tooth after beating back the illness while a second woman reported one of her teeth fell out while she snacked on some ice cream. They similarly saw no blood following the tooth loss.
Others have said they experienced sensitive gums and their teeth turning gray or chipping.
University of Utah periodontist Dr. David Okano told The Times that it’s an “extremely rare feat” for teeth to “literally fall out of their sockets.” He expressed skepticism over the suggestion that COVID could knock out adult teeth on its own, but acknowledged its possible the disease exacerbates already-existing dental issues.
Despite a lack of evidence, experts have called on dentists and medical professionals to be on the lookout for such symptoms — especially because an estimated 47% of adults over the ago of 30 have some form of periodontal disease, according to a 2012 report from America’s Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
Dr. Michael Scherer, a prosthodontist in Sonora, Calif., speculated dental issues experienced by COVID patients could be actually be an immune response, known as a cytokine storm, manifesting in the mouth.
“If a COVID long-hauler’s reaction is in the mouth, it’s a defense mechanism against the virus,” he told The Times, noting other inflammatory health conditions, like cardiovascular disease and diabetes, can also correlate with gum disease.
“Gum disease is very sensitive to hyper-inflammatory reactions, and COVID long-haulers certainly fall into that category.”
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