# Is There a Correlation Between Periodontal Disease Symptoms and the COVID-19 Vaccination?

## TL;DR

This study found no significant link between receiving a COVID-19 vaccine and periodontal symptoms like gum bleeding or bad breath.

## Contribution

The study is the first to investigate the relationship between periodontal health and different types of COVID-19 vaccines in a large sample from Saudi Arabia.

## Key findings

- No significant differences in periodontal symptoms were found based on vaccination status.
- Chronic disease or prior COVID-19 infection was associated with lower vaccination rates.
- Oxford-AstraZeneca was the most commonly administered vaccine in the study population.

## Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate and compare potential associations between different COVID-19 vaccines and periodontal diseases, mainly gingival bleeding and oral malodor (bad breath).

Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study used an online questionnaire consisting of 15 questions regarding demographic information, medical history, type of COVID-19 vaccine received, history of COVID-19, and general and periodontal symptoms after vaccination. The survey was voluntary and privately accessed online using SurveyMonkey®. A total of 2000 participants from three regions of Saudi Arabia participated in the study from October 11, 2021, to October 11, 2022.

Results: Of the participants, 95.8% received at least one dose of the available COVID-19 vaccine. Oxford-AstraZeneca was the most administered (41.7%). Patients who suffered from chronic diseases or had a history of COVID-19 infection were less likely to be vaccinated (OR= 0.62, 95% CI 0.40-0.97; OR=0.62, 95% CI 0.39-0.99) compared with people with no chronic diseases or who had a history of COVID-19. The odds ratios for gingival bleeding, oral malodor, mobility, and tooth loss indicated no significant differences regarding vaccination status.

Conclusion: COVID-19 vaccines might not affect periodontal tissue conditions. People should not avoid vaccination due to concerns with oral or general health, as the benefits of vaccination outweigh the potential side effects.