COVID-19 Induced Taste Dysfunction and Recovery: Association with Smell Dysfunction and Oral Health Behaviour

Georgia Catton, Alexander Gardner, Georgia Catton, Alexander Gardner

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Disruption to taste and smell are common symptoms of COVID-19 infection. The current literature overlooks taste symptoms and tends to focus on the sense of smell. Persisting cases (>28 days) of taste dysfunction are increasingly recognised as a major future healthcare challenge. This study focuses on the severity and recovery of COVID-19 induced taste loss and association with olfactory symptoms, lifestyle and oral health factors. Materials and Methods: This study was a cross-sectional survey comparing 182 rapid taste recovery participants (≤28 days) with 47 participants with prolonged taste recovery >28 days. Analyses of taste loss in association with smell loss, age, sex, illness severity, diet, BMI, vitamin-D supplementation, antidepressants, alcohol use, smoking, brushing frequency, flossing, missing teeth, appliances and number of dental restorations were conducted. Differences in the severity of the loss of sour, sweet, salt, bitter and umami tastes were explored. Results: Both the severity and the duration of taste and smell loss were closely correlated (p < 0.001). Salt taste was significantly less affected than all other taste qualities (p < 0.001). Persisting taste loss was associated with older age (mean ± 95% CI = 31.73 ± 1.23 years vs. 36.66 ± 3.59 years, p < 0.001) and reduced likelihood of using floss (odds ratio ± 95% CI = 2.22 (1.15−4.25), p = 0.047). Conclusions: Smell and taste loss in COVID-19 are closely related, although a minority of individuals can experience taste or smell dysfunction in the absence of the other. The taste of salt may be less severely affected than other taste qualities and future work exploring this finding objectively is indicated. The association of flossing with rapid taste recovery adds to the growing evidence of a link between good periodontal health and favourable COVID-19 outcomes.

Keywords: COVID-19; dental care; oral health; taste dysfunction.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Comparison of total publications on either smell or taste loss and COVID-19 infection since the pandemic began. Data generated by searching the Web of Science using the terms “COVID taste OR COVID gustatory NOT smell NOT olfactory” and “COVID smell OR COVID olfactory NOT taste NOT gustatory” in the title field.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(a) Bubble plot showing the relationship between taste and smell loss severity, n = 421. (b) Plot indicating the differential time for resolution of taste and smell loss, n = 207. (c) Recovery curve for both taste and smell loss, n = 207.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Comparison of intensity of taste sensation loss for the five primary taste modalities. p-values are for Friedman test with Bonferroni-adjusted post hoc pairwise comparisons between all groups, n = 384.

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