Abstract:

The oral microbiome plays a crucial role in maintaining oral health. Disturbed symbiosis of the participants contributes to various oral diseases. Viruses can manifest in the oral cavity through blisters, ulcers, or tumours. SARS-CoV-2 remains infectious in droplets and aerosols for up to an hour. “Long COVID” refers to persistent, recurrent, or newly emerging symptoms occurring one to nine months post-recovery, partially due to viral persistence in the oral epithelium and other organs. With the Omicron variant’s high transmissibility, 10–35% of patients may develop long COVID. Oral symptoms include discoloration, ulcers, haemorrhagic lesions, tongue mycosis, aphthae, atrophic cheilitis, and altered salivary flow. This article presents two clinical cases involving altered taste, oral discomfort, and Herpes simplex reactivation. COVID-19 symptoms are believed to be closely linked to microbiota alterations. Notably, microbial diversity is not fully restored even 6–12 months after infection. Some oral manifestations may also be related to reactivated viruses. Greater attention to oral health during and after viral infections is essential to understand their systemic impact.

Keywords: oral cavity, ecology, long COVID, microbiota