Novel Coronavirus Infecting Cells in the Mouth

New data shows that the virus that causes COVID-19 can infect cells in the mouth.

SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes COVID-19, is famously known to infect the upper airways and lungs. These are the primary sites of the viral infection, and the main reason it is so easy to spread. In many countries, cities, and states/provinces, face masks have become a common site to filter out microscopic water droplets that carry the disease from on person’s airways to another.

However, as it is a new virus, not nearly enough is known about it. There is now evidence that the virus can infect various other parts of the body, such as the digestive system, blood vessels, and more. A new study by the NCBI shows that the novel coronavirus can infect cells within the mouth as well. The mouth seems to play an important role in spreading the disease, as saliva from infected oral cells can be  heavily-laden with the virus.

The question remains: where does the virus come from in infected mouth cells?

In people with clear upper-respiratory COVID-19 infections, the virus reaches the mouth through coughing, mucus, and nasal drainage. However, many people (up to 50%) are asymptomatic. So in this vast number of cases, where does the virus in saliva come from? Presently there are a few good guesses.

Infected mouth tissue

Some mouth cells contain RNA instructions for making proteins that the virus needs to enter. These proteins were found in certain mouth tissue cells and salivary gland cells. This is evidence of weakness to viral entry because the virus needs two separate proteins – both found in salivary and tissue cells – to enter a cell. When the cell can be entered by the virus, it begins replicating, and the virus makes new copies of itself within that cell.

Cells shed from mouth to saliva

With mouth tissue cells being capable of spreading the virus, researchers looked for evidence of cell shedding into the saliva. They found it. With virus-infected cells in the saliva, a new question arose: could saliva be used to spread the virus?

The answer was yes. Asymptomatic COVID-19 patients had cells from their saliva exposed to healthy cells in a petri dish. Those healthy cells soon became infected, providing evidence that saliva is an effective transmission medium.

How does this affect people?

This has some big effects on virus spread and its effects on people.

• People with infected oral cells were more likely to report a loss of smell and taste.
• Saliva plays a bigger role in virus transmission than we thought.
• Inhaling particles of infected saliva can result in COVID-19 infecting the nose, throat, and lungs.
• Swallowing infected saliva can result in gut or oral infections.
• Hopefully this study results in a better over all understanding of the virus, and maybe even a cure down the line.

So what can you do about it?

The number one thing you can do is continue to be careful. Wash your hands frequently, wear a mask when inside and in close-contact with others, and try to avoid touching your face if possible. Getting a vaccine is another good choice – protect yourself from at least a few of the existing variants.

Make sure your mouth stays healthy

If you’ve got the vaccine and want a bright smile, then don’t forget to schedule a dental appointment. It’s easy to let your oral health slide during this time of isolation and social distancing, so let Josey Lane Dentistry help you! If you live in the Carrollton Texas area, we are a family dentistry office who is happy to serve the community. We specialize in oral surgery, dental checkups, cosmetic, preventative, and restorative care.