Oral manifestations associated with long COVID: a scoping review.
Emylly Lopes Theodoro, Karina Marques Prediger, Marielle Aparecida Damacena and 3 others
PMID 42339932WHAT IT FOUND
Across 15 studies, people with long COVID reported taste loss, dry mouth, ulcers, gum bleeding, chewing and swallowing problems.
These were more common in older adults, women, hospitalized patients, and socially vulnerable groups.
Key findings
01The most frequently reported oral manifestations were taste disturbance and dry mouth.
02Other reported oral problems included ulcers, gum bleeding, difficulty chewing, tongue changes, gingivitis, and periodontitis.
03Persistent oral disorders were associated with female sex, older age, prolonged hospitalization, respiratory disease, and social vulnerability.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPsWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The review included 15 studies, and their designs, samples, and settings varied widely. The included studies were mostly observational, and one was a case report, so they cannot show that long COVID caused the oral symptoms. The review depended on published evidence and may have selection bias. Most articles were in English, and many came from India and Iran, which may limit applicability to other populations. The search was limited to March 2020 and December 2024, and to Portuguese, English, and Spanish.
Declared interests
Funded by the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development and the São Paulo State Research Support Foundation.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as evidence that long COVID causes these oral symptoms or that any treatment improves them. The review maps reports from observational studies, including one case report, and does not test interventions.