Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Nov 14, 2025 1 hour, 49 minutes ago
Medical News: A new concern linking Long COVID and oral health
Emerging medical findings suggest that Long COVID may quietly increase the risk of periodontitis, one of the most common and damaging gum diseases. Researchers from the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry and the University of Kentucky College of Medicine report that persistent immune disturbances caused by SARS-CoV-2 may create conditions that make the gums more vulnerable to inflammation, tissue destruction, and bone loss. Their work outlines how ongoing viral activity, chronic inflammation, and immune malfunction could worsen oral health long after the initial infection.
Long COVID May Be Driving a Hidden Surge in Gum Disease
How Long COVID disrupts immune balance
The team explains that Long COVID produces lasting disruptions in the immune system. These include excessive neutrophil activity and elevated inflammatory molecules such as IL-6, IL-1β, IL-17, and TNF, which are also involved in gum destruction. This
Medical News report highlights how these overlapping pathways may directly link Long COVID to worsening gum disease.
People with Long COVID often show lingering viral debris in tissues, irregular T-cell and B-cell responses, and reactivation of dormant viruses such as Epstein–Barr virus. These same biological disturbances are known to accelerate gum inflammation and the breakdown of supporting bone.
Why the mouth becomes an overlooked target
Cells inside the gums and periodontal ligament carry high levels of ACE2, the receptor the SARS-CoV-2 virus uses to enter tissues. When gum tissues are inflamed, ACE2 expression becomes even higher. This means areas of active gum disease may act as reservoirs that shelter viral particles. Even low-level viral presence can keep inflammatory processes active, weaken the local immune response, and shift the balance of bacteria in the mouth toward a more harmful state.
How gum disease may intensify after infection
Long COVID is strongly associated with oral dysbiosis, a shift in the mouth’s microbiome that allows harmful bacteria to dominate. The condition is also linked to increased activity of destructive enzymes such as RANKL and MMPs, which break down bone and connective tissue around teeth. These same mechanisms drive advanced periodontitis. As a result, individuals who never had gum problems before may now be at higher risk, while those with existing issues may see their condition progress more aggressively.
A growing public health issue
The researchers caution that Long COVID could represent a major overlooked trigger for new or worsening gum disease. They stress that both conditions involve chronic inflammation, meaning dental care and oral monitoring may play a crucial role in supporting overall recovery. More clinical research is urgently needed to clarify the relationship and guide healthcare guidelines for post-COVID patients.
The study findings were published on a preprint server and are currently being peer reviewed.
f="https://www.preprints.org/manuscript/202511.0816">https://www.preprints.org/manuscript/202511.0816
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Medical News.
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