ABSTRACT
Background: Covid-19 is a worldwide pandemic causing considerable morbidity and mortality. Many studies have shown the influence of periodontal health on systemic disease. Aims: This article explores the association between periodontal disease (PD), oral dysbiosis and cytokine storm requiring proto- col of maintainence of oral hygiene in covid patients and also in healthy individuals during the pandemic. Covid patients need to be motivated to maintain proper oral hygiene measures to avoid risk of Covid related adverse outcomes. Methods: Data was collected and analyzed from recently published literature and electronic database searches of PubMed and Google Scholar. Results: Covid-19 leads to increased release of cytokines from host cells termed as cytokine storm, many of the components of which are common with the cytokine expression profile of periodontitis. It has been shown that periodontitis was significantly associated with increased risk of complications from the Covid-19 including ICU admission, need for assisted ventilation and death. Conclusion: Plaque control is important to prevent exchange of microorganisms between the oral cavity and the lungs and to reduce the chances of worsening respiratory disease during Covid-19 infection. Understanding this association may definitely help to identify individuals at high risk and deliver appropriate care at early stages.
ABSTRACT
Background: Dental fluorosis which manifests as discoloration of teeth is an aesthetic problem usually encountered. If the intake of fluoride in the formative years is excessive it may lead to dental and skeletal fluorosis. While optimum fluoride is beneficial for the dental tissues affording better caries resistance, the excess intake leads to defective enamel and skeletal development. Aims & Objective: The objective of this study was to detect the fluorosis cases in rural areas of malappuram district in Kerala and correlate this with the level of fluoride in the water used for consumption and decide whether defluoridaton of these water sources are needed. Material and Methods: Cases of fluorosis were detected and water from their drinking sources were collected in sterile plastic containers and fluoride level was estimated by ion selective exchange method. Results: The clinical cases of fluorosis graded from 0.5 to 4 according to Dean’s fluorosis index. Only a few samples showed the presence of fluoride and that too in trace amounts. Conclusion: The results of our study fail to show an association between the clinically evident dental fluorosis and the fluoride levels in the drinking water sources. This does not negate the well proven fact the fluorosis is caused by intake of fluoride in excess amounts during the formative years. We conclude that the excess intake must have been due to supplementation from dietary sources, toothpastes or from any other sources. It may also be due to the air borne fluorides or defective fluoride metabolism due to any drug intake.