Abstract
The incidence of oral manifestations is positively correlated with the severity of COVID-19. The Omicron is the most significant variant of SARS-CoV-2. This study aimed to explore oral manifestations of adult patients during the Omicron outbreak and the relationship between oral health care, smoking and oral manifestations. A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to March 2023 by the online platform Wenjuanxing to collect data. Univariate and multivariate logistics regression models were used to analyze influencing factors of oral manifestations. The study included 1153 adult patients. Oral manifestations were reported at 38.6%, followed by dysgeusia (38.3%), dry mouth (28.0%), halitosis (6.6%), and oral ulcers (5.4%). Previous periodontal diseases increased the risk of halitosis, but reduced the risk of dysgeusia; previous oral mucosal diseases increased the risk of dysgeusia, halitosis and oral ulcers. E-cigarette users were at a higher risk of halitosis. Exposure to secondhand smoke(SHS) reduced the risk of oral ulcers, patients who neither smoked nor was exposed had lower odds of oral ulcers and dysgeusia. This study focused on Omicron-specific oral manifestations and the effects of oral health behaviors, e-cigarettes and SHS. It is recommended to promote targeted oral hygiene campaigns and smoking cessation plans to reduce oral lesions caused by sudden public health emergencies.