Dental Care in times of COVID-19

In these Hard times, when almost half of the world is Locked down in homes, one thing that normally misses our attention is the Dental Care or Oral Health Care. 

That can change quickly if you suddenly have a cavity or pain and you struggle to find a dentist whos working.

Generally speaking - All that is required is to brush twice a day and Floss once. 

Diet Matters

What you eat is Very Important.. 

Avoiding excessive snacking — a habit that’s all too easy to adopt when dealing with the stress and boredom inherent in self-quarantining.

Starchy foods or drinks lead to acid in our mouths, which dissolves tooth surfaces.

The more often our teeth are bathed in these acids, the weaker and softer they become.

Good hydration also is important for oral health, dentists agree.

        Resist turning to unhealthy habits to manage your stress. Overindulging in smoking and drinking can be detrimental to oral health. Smoking inhibits the blood supply to your gums and increases your risk for gum infections. High exposure to alcohol can dry out the cells in your cheeks and gums. Chewing on ice, pen caps, or fingernails as a means of stress management can cause the teeth to chip or break.

Keep your toothbrush clean

If you suspect that COVID-19 is present in your home, disinfect your toothbrush.

Every time we flush the toilet, we generate an aerosol spray.  Most people leave their brushes and other toiletries merely inches away from commodes. Try to flush with the lid closed. Keep your floss pics, brushes, and tongue cleaners covered. Soaking them in a mixture of mouthwash and hydrogen peroxide also keeps them safe.

Dental care emergencies only

As COVID-19 spreads, the Indian Dental Association advised dental offices on March 16 to restrict their operations to emergency procedures only.

Dentists have been prohibited from providing nonemergency services, including aesthetic work, exams, cleanings, and fillings.

This accomplishes three very important things - It preserves the nationwide supply of personal protective equipment for our front-line heroes, prevents the spread of this virus through congregating in dental offices, and eliminates the need for dental emergency patients from flooding into emergency rooms that are better used fighting the virus.

Many dentists including us have turned to Online/Telephonic consultation to counsel patients by phone or video conferencing.

Dentists face one of the highest risks of contracting coronavirus, even greater than nurses or paramedics.  They literally work 6 inches away from our patients’ faces during dental procedures.

As a result, expect your dentist to take additional safety measures if you do have to make a visit for an emergency procedure — for your protection as well as the safety of the dentist and their staff.