After a year of the pandemic, the 2nd National Multidisciplinary Congress on COVID-19 of the Scientific Societies of Spain brought together multiple experts in the field of science and health to highlight the impact that oral health can have on COVID-19.

The Spanish Society of Periodontology and Osseointegration (SEPA), together with the Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR) in collaboration with other related societies, along with the support of the General Dental Council of Spain and the sponsorship of DENTAID, held an online twin-session round table within the Congress to discuss two current issues: on the one hand, the role of oral health and the use of mouthwashes with virucidal activity in reducing the risk of transmission and the severity of COVID-19, and on the other, the aggravating effect of periodontitis and/or poor oral health on COVID-19.

In the words of Dr Paula Matesanz, the Secretary of the Board at SEPA and joint-chair of the session, “the COVID-19 crisis has made many people aware of their health for the first time, and it is important that dentistry be present and seriously taken into account in this new scenario.”

As evidenced by several studies, the mouth is not an isolated system within the human body, and there is a relationship between periodontal diseases and various ailments including cardiovascular disease, respiratory infections such as pneumonia or infectious exacerbations of COPD, diabetes, and even adverse effects during pregnancy. The mouth is considered one of the main routes of entry and exit of various microorganisms in our body that can multiply and cause infections both locally and at the systemic level. Dr David de la Rosa, the President of the Scientific Committee of the Congress, stressed the importance in this regard of maintaining good oral health in order to take care of general health.

The participants of the round table of the Congress insisted on the need to keep good oral health, as it can help prevent the development and transmission of infectious diseases. In addition, they stressed the importance of good oral hygiene as a basic recommendation for prevention, along with hand washing and social distancing.

To view the two sessions on Oral Health and its Impact on COVID (in Spanish), please click on these links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0znNqUAqI8U 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjIYgjuK0JE