A strong alliance for oral health: educate, test and protect

In the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, the German Oral Health Foundation (DMS) is taking the initiative and pooling the expertise of local experts (dental practices), industry, associations and organizations. With its Alliance for Oral Immunocompetence, the DMS connects local experts (dental practices and medical professionals), industry and associations to prevent unnecessary severe courses or deaths of people with COVID-19. Interested dental practices with a focus on prevention can join and actively support the DMS's education and diagnostics initiative.
Would you like to be part of it? Then please apply here!

More corona deaths due to poor oral hygiene

A new British study shows that people with swollen or bleeding gums are up to 70% more likely to die from a COVID-19 infection. (1) This shows how important a healthy oral cavity is in the fight against the virus. Dentist Prof. Roland Frankenberger (University of Marburg) and diabetologist Prof. Andreas Pfützner (Pfützner Science & Health Institute, Mainz) have long emphasized the importance of oral immunocompetence, also in the context of the pandemic.

The mouth - the first barrier of the immune defense

It is known that the coronavirus mainly enters the body via receptors in the mouth and throat. Therefore, a strong immune defense of the oral cavity and a healthy oral mucosa are the first hurdle for the viruses. (2) If these are weakened or if periodontal degeneration processes take place unnoticed, additional bacterial infections pose a high risk of contracting pneumonia or even dying from sepsis. A poorly cared for oral cavity is often the source of such infections.

Significantly fewer complications through early detection and prevention

A study involving almost 100,000 people over a period of 12 years has proven the close link between dental hygiene and pneumonia. Periodontal treatment reduced the risk of developing pneumonia by 31%; intensified treatment even reduced this risk by up to 66%. Patients with diabetes even had a 78% higher risk of developing pneumonia. (3)
"Oral prevention strengthens immunocompetence at the source of the viral infection and helps to prevent it or mitigate its progression through this fitness function," says Prof. Dr. Roland Frankenberger.

Oral hygiene is important to protect against coronavirus

In a joint publication, the diabetologist Prof. Dr. Pfützner (Mainz) and the dentist Prof. Roland Frankenberger (University of Marburg) call for the current recommendations for the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 to be expanded to include the determination of oral immunocompetence and the treatment of the mouth and throat. (4) Patients should not postpone their appointments for routine examinations and check-ups under any circumstances.

The oral immune barrier and oral health can be tested

In addition, the aMMP-8 test (MMP-8: activated matrix metallo-protienase-8) provides doctors and dentists with an effective test to determine the protective effect of the oral immune barrier. The rapid test developed by the University of Helsinki and the German biotech company Dentognostics takes just 5 minutes and can be carried out contact-free at home as an aMMP8 self-test or directly at the dentist's or doctor's office.

The test determines the activity of an enzyme that makes the barrier perforated through tissue breakdown (collagenolysis). This makes it easier for bacteria and viruses to enter the body. If there is an increased breakdown of tissue, patients and doctors can quickly improve the resistance of the oral immune system with suitable dental hygiene and other preventive measures.

The oral immune barrier is more important than ever

Corona infection numbers are rising, vaccination centers are only slowly picking up speed and, to make matters worse, the dreaded virus mutation B.1.1.7. is spreading throughout Europe. This variant of the virus is 50-70% more infectious than the previous virus and could soon push our healthcare system to its limits.

In addition to the usual AHA rules and contact restrictions, the German Oral Health Foundation considers the oral immune barrier to be one of the most important components in protecting against the virus. So does Prof. Zastrow, who considers the disinfection of the oral cavity with a suitable mouthwash to be more important than ventilation. (5)

Sources

1. The Impact of Periodontal Disease on Hospital Admission and Mortality During COVID-19 Pandemic, Larvin H, Wilmott S, Wu J and Kang J (2020) Front. Med. 7:604980. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2020.604980
2. High expression of ACE2 receptor of 2019-nCoV on the epithelial cells of oral mucosa. Xu, Hao & Zhong, Liang & Deng, Jiaxin & Peng, Jiakuan & Hongxia, Dan & Zeng, Xin & Li, Taiwen & Chen, Qianming. (2020). International Journal of Oral Science. 12
3. The Association of Periodontal Treatment and Decreased Pneumonia: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study. Yang LC, Suen YJ, Wang YH et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2000; 17: 3356.
4. Oral Immunocompetence in the Corona Pandemic vs. System Relevance of Dentistry. Roland Frankenberger, Andreas Pfützner. Health Economics & Quality Management 2020; 25(05): 256-263 Georg Thieme Verlag KG
5. Mundspülung statt Begrüßungssekt – Ansteckungsrisiko auf Feiern: Was Hygienepapst Prof. Zastrow empfiehlt https://www.rtl.de/cms/ansteckungsrisiko-auf-feiern-was-hygienepapst-prof-zastrow-empfiehlt-4622531.html