Time to see you favorite dentist
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March and April of 2020 dental services fell through the floor by 75 – 79% each month. The restrictions that were placed on dental clinics led to more severe dental issues, the COVID-19 harmed patients’ teeth and many patients haven’t had a chance to address the damage that has been done over fear for their safety.
Our dental clinic in London Ontario is here to support you by adhering to the highest standards of infection control against COVID-19. Are you ready to learn about how that pandemic has affected your teeth? Then let’s dive in.
Patients with more cavities, gum disease, and tooth grinding issues
Perhaps you’ve been thinking that since your teeth aren’t in pain you don’t need to go to the dentist? Or were you laid off and never got back into the routine of going to the dentist once you returned to work? Or perhaps you found visiting the dentist during a global pandemic to be too intimidating? Whichever the case, you should know what dental issues patients are facing that haven’t been to the dentist during the global pandemic.
Patients that have recently returned to the dentist for the first time since the pandemic and didn’t improve their oral health routine have had extensive teeth issues. Some of these issues include more cavities, gum disease, and tooth grinding issues that require extensive dental treatment to correct. The patients that had more cavities were typically caused by weakened tooth enamel and not being able to remove plaque between teeth in the areas that only dental hygienists have the instruments to remove plaque from. Avoiding the dentist ultimately makes you have to see the dentist more in the grand scheme of things and is not recommended. If you are not too sure where to start, did you know that the first thing people notice is how white your teeth are?
Patients that tested positive for COVID-19
Dr. Raimondi’s practice found that patients who tested positive for COVID-19 have worse dental hygiene after contracting the virus. An article by Nature Medicine examined how COVID-19 infects cells in the mouth leading to loss of taste, blistering and dry mouth before it is transferred by your saliva to the rest of your body. Therefore, if you have tested positive for COVID-19 or had a similar illness such as the flu, they can greatly impact your teeth and you should see a dentist.
More patients with teeth grinding issues
During the months of lockdowns, teeth grinding cases skyrocketed because of the increased stress levels. This has resulted in more crooked, chipped, and cracked teeth along with jaw pain. Depending on how severe the damage is, teeth may need to be repaired, replaced, or even extracted – through a combination of crowns, inlays, fillings, porcelain veneers in London Ontario, and Invisalign in London Ontario to straighten crooked teeth.
To fix teeth grinding we recommend treating the condition with a nightguard to protect your jaw and teeth longevity. There is no over-the-counter solution that is guaranteed to work for your mouth, but getting a custom-made nightguard is a good start. You can contact our clinic to inquire about getting yours today!
How to take care of your teeth in 2022
Instead of choosing to modestly give up sweets and revert back in a month, why don’t you implement these sustainable methods to maintain good dental health? Stay hydrated with water, floss prior to brushing, brush your teeth two to three times per day (don’t forget your tongue), and use fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash. Implementing these methods into your daily routine will allow you to fight bacteria before it turns into plaque and keep your breath fresh all year long.
Conclusion
All of these conditions can be reduced or limited with a consistent dental hygiene routine and regular dental examinations to stay ahead of any issues that may arise. At Sbenati Dentistry we realize that there is anxiety surrounding visiting your dentist, and we’ll take every measure to help you feel as comfortable as possible.
If you would like to ask our dental clinic in London Ontario any questions or schedule an appointment you can use our Request An Appointment form, email at Info@sbenatidentistry.ca, or give us a call at (519)-474-0220. If you need to be seen urgently our clinic also has emergency dentist appointments and pediatric dentist appointments for your children as well.
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