The covid-19 pandemic has implications for oral health that many people don’t think about. The dental health care team at NEESH Dental Clinic is committed to your oral health even when we can’t see you as regularly. In this blog, we explain four reasons why oral care is even more critical during covid-19 than ever.
Mask mouth is on the rise.
Wearing a mask for prolonged periods of time contributes to dehydration and dry mouth, which can have adverse effects on our oral health such as bad breath, plaque buildup, acid wear, cavities, tooth decay, gingivitis, and gum disease. To read more about mask mouth and how to mitigate it, read this blog.
Increased stress leads to an increase in bruxism.
If you’re under stress, you’re likely to experience nervous tension, jaw clenching, and teeth grinding (bruxism). With the constant fear of illness, economic concerns, and social isolation, the pandemic has brought a lot of extra stress and anxiety. A recent study published in theJournal of Clinical Medicine examined how stress and anxiety associated with pandemic increased temporomandibular disorders and bruxism symptoms. Whether you are aware of it or doing it in your sleep, bruxism can have a severe impact on your teeth—read our blog about the dangers of bruxism to learn more. If you’re stressed, you’re not alone, and we are here to help you take care of your teeth. Click here for more info on coping with covid-19 related stress.
Disruption to regular oral care routines.
For many of us, the pandemic has changed our day-to-day lives and upended our daily routines. Across Canada, there has been a significant increase in the number of people working or studying from home due to physical distancing measures and quarantine orders. Most of us would typically do our daily brushing in the mornings before leaving the house. Staying home all the time, we easily forget to brush our teeth! Forgetting every once in a while is no big deal, but repeatedly missing your daily oral care will have consequences for your oral health. If you are staying home regularly, it’s crucial to find ways to establish a regular morning routine just as you would if you were leaving the house each day.
Reduced access to professional dental care.
The pandemic has made it more challenging to see your dentist for twice-annual exams and cleanings, which are essential for optimal oral health. The Provincial lockdown in response to the initial breakout of covid-19 had many essential services, including dental clinics closed, leaving everyone without dental care for months. Even after re-opening, dental clinics must operate with physical distancing and other precautionary protocols that make it impossible to operate at standard capacity. For anyone immunocompromised, there is an increased risk of leaving the house for any reason, including dental care. For everyone else, wait times have increased for dental exams and cleanings that are essential to optimal oral health. We hope to reduce the need for unnecessary trips to the clinic by offering virtual dental consultations!
Covid-19 and your oral health.
To reduce the risk of spreading covid-19, it is necessary that we wear masks, social distance, and stay home as much as possible. However, these preventive measures have implications for our oral health that we can’t ignore. The dentists at NEESH Dental Clinic are available to provide consultations virtually, so we can continue to work together to protect your oral health even if you can’t visit us in person! Contact us today to book your appointment.
