In recent months, following the outbreak of the new coronavirus pandemic, some cases of dry mouth have been reported related to COVID-19.
Research shows 5% of people who had Covid are dealing with long-lasting loss of smell or taste, a shift one expert said could be considered “a new public health crisis.”
Xerostomia has been found largely amongst COVID-19 patients. Dry mouth or xerostomia is a sign of dehydration which could occur secondary to underlying illness such as COVID-19.
Xerostomia reported in patients with the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) occurs due to the neuroinvasive and neurotropism potential of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).
Michelle MacLean, RDH, examines the ways that SARS-CoV-2 contributed to an uptick in patients with xerostomia, as well as how oral health-care providers can help them recover.