By Elyse Brumfield, RDH
Supervised and Edited by Dr. Levy Do, DDS

It’s 2022 and we all thought that by now we would see the effects of COVID fizzle and the world go back to normal. Slowly, they are, but it’s still unsettling to go out with the news of different variants spreading. Unfortunately, that means many people are avoiding going to important appointments like the dentist. But is it safe while there is a pandemic going on? It is! In fact, not going to the dentist during the pandemic is actually harming your health and your teeth, and here’s why:

• Link between COVID and Oral Hygiene - Did you know that not getting your teeth cleaned can actually increase your risk of getting COVID? A recent study showed that 80% of those who ended up in the ICU due to COVID complications were also there due to an underlying bacterial condition such as heart disease, diabetes, or hypertension - all of which are linked to the bacteria in the mouth that cause periodontal disease. What does this mean? If you already have periodontal disease or avoid dental cleanings that can remove the bacteria that contribute to these diseases, you are at a higher risk of getting one of those diseases or winding up in the hospital due to COVID. Getting your teeth professionally cleaned lowers your chance of having a severe reaction to COVID and also helps control cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and high blood pressure!

• Major Dental Problems - Let’s be honest, we don’t all brush 2 times a day or floss daily. If you do, you’re AWESOME. But, even if you do, millions of little bacteria live in your mouth, some harmful. Not going to get your teeth professionally cleaned leaves opportunity for the bacteria to cause cavities, gingivitis or even bone loss, leading to periodontal disease. If you have existing cavities or dental work that needs to be done, leaving it will only make it get worse, causing possible pain and major dental work that needs to be done!

• Pain - Do you have any pain currently? Soreness around the gums, sharp pain when biting down, sensitivity when drinking or eating something hot or cold? It might not be anything major, but chances are good that there is something going on that needs to be diagnosed and treated. Waiting will only cause the problem and the pain to get worse.

• Financially Expensive - Not only will your avoidance of the dentist cause more dental problems and pain to get worse, but it also can get more expensive. If you have too much tartar buildup around the teeth or let bacteria sit under the gums too long, you might not be eligible for a “regular” cleaning anymore. Tartar harbors toxic producing bacteria which can irritate your gums, causing bone loss around the teeth. Once your gums are unhealthy or you have bone loss due to the bacteria eating away at your bone, you will need a more extensive cleaning to get all that harmful bacteria out of your mouth which is usually not completely covered by insurance. Leaving dental problems untreated can also cause them to get worse. A cavity can spread deeper into the tooth undermining the major chewing cusps, often necessitating a crown, root canal, or even tooth extraction if it spreads too far and deep! The worse the problem, the more work required, and hence the more expensive the remedy. Fix it early!

• Risk of catching COVID - The risk of catching COVID at the dentist is very low. In fact, you are more likely to catch COVID while grocery shopping at the grocery store or getting gas! Why? Because we make sure that all precautions are taken to make sure you are kept safe and healthy. This includes using sterilization methods that kill bacteria and viruses, wiping down everything with medical-grade disinfectants after every patient, wearing masks and gloves that get changed out constantly, using aerosol controls such as high-evacuation suctions, and air purifiers in each operatory.

It is important to take the necessary actions to keep you and your family healthy. Whether it is getting vaccinated, wiping down surfaces, wearing a mask, or wiping down surfaces, you want to make sure you keep your family safe. Waiting to go see the dentist won’t help protect you but instead can harm you physically and financially. We want to help you avoid that!

At Pine Cove Dental, we take every precaution to help prevent the spread of COVID virus strains. If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 or are developing any symptoms such as fever, headache, coughing, or difficulty breathing, please stay home and contact your primary physician. If you are concerned about coming to the dentist, let us know! We would be happy to help put your mind at ease and schedule your next appointment to help keep you and your family healthy during this uncertain time.

Reference:

Sampson, V., Kamona, N., & Sampson, A. (2020). Could there be a link between oral hygiene and the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infections?. British dental journal, 228(12), 971–975. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-020-1747-8