Author(s):
COVID 19 mainly affects the respiratory, gastrointestinal and neurological systems but it also involves the oral cavity, olfactory and integumentary system. The oral manifestations of COVID 19 along with inflammatory response of surrounding tissues are due to angiotensin converting enzymes (ACE 2) and Trans membrane serine protease (TMPRSS 2). ACE 2 and TMPRSS 2 play a key role in virus transmission through saliva and shows its expression in the salivary glands, oral mucosal epithelium. The reported oral manifestation of COVID 19 are Xerostomia, loss of taste, smell, COVID tongue,halitosis and mucosal lesions.The exact mechanism how these structures are involved are not known that whether these manifestations are the result of direct infection or secondary manifestations.This review will discuss the oral manifestations of COVID 19 along with its possible mechanism.
