Since the early months of 2020, we have all realized the importance of Covid-appropriate behavior. Maintaining social distancing, washing and sanitizing our hands multiple times and wearing a mask has been of prime importance in this pandemic.  However, one thing is missing in the above sentence: the importance of oral hygiene.  Lets say it differently, while the importance of oral hygiene is well understood, its significance during the Covid pandemic has been under-communicated.

Our mouth hosts millions and millions of bacteria and other microbes. Although most of these microbes are harmless commensal of the mouth, some are capable of causing dental diseases. These microbes persist in the plaque, which gets accumulated on the surface of the teeth and gum-line when we do not follow appropriate oral hygiene. The bacteria metabolize sugars from the food we eat and release toxic acidic substances, which cause dental decay, gum diseases, and various oral health problems.
Our daily oral hygiene practices such as toothbrushing, flossing and using a mouthwash aim to remove such offending organisms. However, improper and careless oral hygiene practices allow for continuous bacterial growth, which later causes dental and systemic diseases.

Regarding Covid-19, it is well established that the critical entry points for the covid-19 virus are the nose and the mouth.  Recently a number of studies were conducted which aimed to discover any connections between oral health and covid-19 infection.  One of these studies found that people with poor oral hygiene tend to have a worse covid-19 prognosis.  This study also showed that the coronavirus gets accumulated in the plaque, from where it reaches down to the gums, finds a way into the bloodstream, and affects other organs.  People who practiced oral hygiene diligently and had good oral health were seen to have a faster recovery and suffered lesser complications.
Some studies point out that chlorhexidine mouthwash impede the spread of the disease to the internal organs. In addition, using chlorhexidine mouthwash or betadine gargles 3-4 times a day reduced the viral load of SARS-CoV 2 in the mouth, thus preventing the progression of the disease. The antibacterial agents present in the mouthwash were found to disable the virus and prevented its spread and progression in people already infected.

What Should You Do To Have A Better Oral Health During This Pandemic?

Most essential part of oral hygiene is toothbrushing. Use good quality and medium bristles hardness toothbrush and toothpaste.

• Brush twice a day, most notably in the morning and once before bed for 3 minutes. You can even set a timer for this to ensure you are not over-brushing or under-brushing your teeth.
• Use floss to clean the spaces between your teeth.
• Use mouthwash once after you have brushed.
• If you have tested positive for covid-19, use a chlorhexidine mouthwash or do betadine gargles 3-4 times a day.
• Keep your dental aids clean.
• If you were tested positive, change your toothbrush after recovering.

Following these simple oral hygiene steps can benefit you and those near you immensely during this pandemic while also keeping you free from dental diseases.