It’s frustrating, but recovery is still possible
You’ve been doing everything you can to get your sense of smell back. Then, out of nowhere, you test positive for Covid again and your smell disappears. If you’ve lost smell again after Covid, it can feel discouraging, but recovery is still possible.
At the time of writing, there is no published research on recovery after multiple bouts of smell loss from Covid. However, many people in the CKOS community have recovered after more than one infection, often through patience, care, and smell training.
What we know so far
Each time you catch Covid, your body builds some level of immunity. This may help protect you from the most severe effects in the future.
The early variants of Covid seemed to cause more damage to the sense of smell than later ones, likely because people had no existing immunity at the time. However, reinfection can still affect smell, so it’s worth being careful and following preventive steps.
Mouth care during infection
Research from Salisbury Hospital shows that the mouth can hold a large amount of the Covid virus, even after symptoms ease. Good oral care may help reduce the viral load and protect both you and those around you.
Their guidance suggests:
- Brush your teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.
- Spit after brushing, but do not rinse. This leaves protective fluoride in your mouth.
- Use a fluoride mouthwash containing ingredients proven to kill the virus in laboratory tests, such as cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) or ethyl lauroyl arginate (ELA/LAE).
- Look for products like Dentyl Dual Action, Dentyl Fresh Protect, or Listerine Advanced Defence Gum Treatment.
- Always follow the instructions on the bottle, spit (don’t rinse), and avoid eating or drinking straight afterwards.
You can read the full guidance from Salisbury Hospital here.
Rinsing your nose
Nasal rinsing is another practical step that can help flush out the virus from your upper airways. Always use boiled and cooled water, and make sure your equipment is clean.
You can find our advice on nasal rinsing here.
Support your recovery through smell training
Once your infection has cleared, restarting smell training can help support recovery. It is one of the best-known ways to encourage the sense of smell to return.
If you need a new smell training kit, Scent Recover offers specialist kits that we recommend.
When to seek medical advice
If your smell loss continues for more than 8–12 weeks after infection, or you notice distorted smells that cause distress, speak to your GP or an ENT specialist. They can check for other causes and discuss possible treatments.
Key Takeaway
If you’ve lost smell again after Covid, try not to lose hope. Recovery is still possible. Protect yourself and others with good mouth and nasal hygiene, and restart smell training once you feel well again.
