WHY IMPROVING ORAL HEALTH IS NOW MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER? Oral health is a key factor in helping fight the pandemic. When the American Dental Association asked dental offices to temporarily close, except for emergencies, in mid-2020, little was known about the relationship between oral hygiene and the severity of COVID-19 infections. Since that time, new research is showing that poor oral hygiene can directly affect how patients are able to fight off the disease. Recent studies reflect that relationship in a very relevant and urgent way. It concludes that poor oral hygiene may be connected to serious COVID-19 complications due to high levels of harmful oral bacteria. Improving oral health may reduce the risk of complications from COVID-19. The four main co-morbidities related to COVID-19 are also associated with altered oral biofilms and periodontal disease. While COVID-19 has a viral origin, those bacterias may originate in the mouth. The oral cavity, via saliva and plaque, is s...