New long Covid side effect as dentists warn some patients' teeth are suddenly falling out

This has widely become known as Long Covid, and now experts have warned of another side effect affecting sufferers - sudden teeth loss.

Dentists have wanted that the virus may irritate the gums through inflammation, with several cases of people losing teeth as a result.

According to The New York Times, one woman lost a tooth this month having tested positive for Covid-19 in sping.

Farah Khemili, 43, from New York, noticed her tooth getting wobbly before losing it while eating an ice cream.

Meanwhile, a 12-year-old boy was also reported to have lost a tooth following his Covid-19 diagnosis.

His mother, Diana Berrent, took to Twitter to urge people to take the virus seriously.

She said: “My 12yo just lost an adult front tooth and his other teeth are loose... it turns out from vasculature damage 9 months after Covid. Omg.  PLEASE... I beg of you, take this seriously.  For you.  For your kids.  For everyone.”

While it remains unclear whether the tooth loss was triggered by Covid-19, experts suggest that the inflammation caused by coronavirus could irritate the gums.

 

Experts suggest that the inflammation caused by coronavirus could irritate the gums

Dr Michael Scherer, a prosthodontist in Sonora, California, said: “Gum disease is very sensitive to hyper-inflammatory reactions, and Covid long haulers certainly fall into that category.”

However, others suggest that the tooth loss may be a consequence of limited access to dentist surgeries during lockdown.

Professor Damien Walmsley, scientific adviser at the British Dental Association, said: “Long Covid is a debilitating condition, and ongoing symptoms can include breathlessness, chest pain, brain fog and anxiety among others.

"We know that previously fit and healthy people can struggle to do the most basic tasks, such as climbing the stairs.

"It’s likely too that they are not as attentive to their oral hygiene, which would increase their risk of developing tooth decay and gum disease.

"It is more important than ever, to clean teeth, twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, before bed and on one other occasion."
Mirror