The Importance Of Dental Care On Your General Health And Protection Against COVID-19
At Brightside Dental we have noticed that some patients are putting off visiting the hygienist or dentist until the situation with the pandemic settles down.
Unfortunately, our personal situations during lockdown can adversely affect our oral health and this has meant that we are seeing a number of patients with significant deterioration in the health of their mouth.
The Covid-19 pandemic has made a lot of changes to our lives and it is completely natural to feel stressed. However, being stressed is well known for the negative health symptoms it causes. While you probably know that stress causes headaches, insomnia and an upset stomach, did you know that it can damage your dental health as well? Feeling stressed may make you more prone to overaggressive brushing, which scratches away your enamel and leaves your teeth sensitive and weakened.
For adults, working from home can mean a longer, more productive day but it can also impact one’s dental hygiene – rolling out of bed, hopping on that Zoom call and forgetting the usual morning routine. Snacking also tends to increase throughout the day.
As for teens, their lack of schedule coupled with late nights can throw off their dental routines. They go to bed late, forget to brush and sleep in with their mouths filled with bacteria. Waking up late doesn’t help either because they jump start their day midafternoon, forgetting that crucial morning dental hygiene component.
It is well known that advanced gum disease has an impact on many areas of general health and systemic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. Research since the onset of the pandemic is indicating that people with gum disease are also likely to be more seriously affected by Covid-19. A recent study indicates that people with gum disease who test positive for Covid-19 could be up to 9 times more likely to die from the disease.
In many ways, Covid-19 has caused all of us to take a step back and reassess our basic hygiene habits. We are more aware than ever about taking general precautions in order to stay healthy. This should also be applied to our dental care.
Here are few tips to help you get back to healthy dental care habits:
- Brush in the morning – it’s not just good for a clean mouth, it’s a good pick me up!
- Set an alarm twice a day to stay on track with your brushing and flossing
- Choose snacks wisely – limit sticky, gummy sugary sweets
- Limit late night snacking. Not only is this good for your mouth, it’s good for the rest of your body
- Limit sugary drinks. Instead wash those snacks down with plenty of water. This will keep the bacteria growth at bay and wash any particles away.
At Brightside Dental, we offer dental hygiene appointments from Monday to Saturday to help treat and prevent gum disease and assist you in keeping your mouth as healthy as possible. We have comprehensive measures in place to protect your safety and it is completely safe for you to visit us.
To arrange your appointment or if you need any assistance or advice, please call us on 020 88884401.
