Study Shows the Mouth as the Primary Source of COVID-19 Infection

Mouth covid-19 infections

COVID-19 has been around for only a little more than a year. Most research into the novel coronavirus has focused on the lungs and nose. Now, a new study underscores the mouth as the primary source for COVID-19 infection. This highlights the importance of continuing to practice social distancing and wearing a face covering.

Researchers from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research and the University of North Carolina conducted a study that shows the coronavirus can infect the salivary glands and replicate there. In some instances, this phenomena led to prolonged disease when infected saliva was swallowed into the stomach and gastrointestinal tract or aspirated to the lungs leading to pneumonia.

Covid-19 oral infection studies

The results of this study have yet to be peer-reviewed.

“Our results show oral infection of COVID-19 may be underappreciated,”

said senior study author Kevin M. Byrd, research instructor at the UNC Adams School of Dentistry and the Anthony R. Volpe Research Scholar at the American Dental Association Science and Research Institute.