The Impact of COVID-19 on Oral Health

Since March of 2020, the world around us has not been the same. COVID-19 has, without a doubt, impacted every aspect of our daily lives. With the added stress and changing lifestyles, the pandemic has also impacted many people’s oral health! Believe it or not, your oral health is directly connected to other outside factors and will start to change as things around you change as well.

To keep you well informed and help you take the best care of your teeth, we have listed below some of the ways this past year has left an impact on the dental world and patients’ oral health in some cases.

Access to Dental Care

One of the most devastating effects of the pandemic on individuals’ health is the lack of access to health professionals and their offices. Many offices either closed during the pandemic or are a risk for those with major health concerns to visit.

Regular dental visits every year are important because your dentist will check your overall oral health and trouble areas before they get out of hand. Dental visits also keep your teeth and gums clean by removing plaque and tartar buildup, so without these appointments, many health issues were not taken care of. Thankfully, most dental offices have protocols in place to keep all of our patients safe during this time while continuing to serve you!

Stress

While stress is often dealt with mentally, it can profoundly affect your body as a whole. It goes without saying that the pandemic this past year has produced a great deal of stress in many lives. We understand that during this time many people haven’t been able to focus completely on their teeth.

However, because your oral hygiene is important to your overall health and wellbeing we wanted to encourage our patients to continue to practice good habits. By taking care of your smile, we promise that you will continue to smile more.

Dry Mouth

Dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, occurs when there is a lack of saliva to keep the mouth moist. Therefore giving the uncomfortable sensation of a dry mouth. This symptom has been recognized as an early COVID-19 symptom in some cases but could also be due to poor oral health while sick with or treating the virus.

If you have experienced dry mouth, it is important to stay hydrated and continue a good routine of brushing and flossing!

Gingivitis and Gum Disease

Covid-19 has kept many of us in our homes more than usual, and while that has been good for keeping our neighbors safe, that also means some people haven’t been brushing their teeth as diligently. Throughout the pandemic, you may have noticed your gums getting red and puffy. This is typically an early indicator of gum disease and will happen when your teeth aren’t receiving the care they need and plaque builds up on the surface of the tooth.

This year more than ever, oral health has been greatly affected. And now more than ever it is important to look after your dental hygiene. Studies have also shown that poor oral hygiene has been a correlated with the recovery of Covid-19. As you can see, brushing and flossing your teeth not only makes your breath smell better but keeps you healthier overall! We hope to see you soon.