Your Teeth and COVID

Like many industries and professions, dentistry has changed as a result of COVID. There are new recommendations and guidelines, and dental professionals are striving to ensure the safety of patients and staff as offices open back up.

So what has changed? As a patient there are many new procedures you may encounter when you go for dental treatment or for a dental cleaning. Here are some new things you may find:

Your dentist or dental office staff calls you prior to the appointment to ask you questions. These include questions about COVID-like symptoms, any new medical conditions or medications, and recent travel. You may be asked to do a "teledental" call that includes video to evaluate the problem you are having or if an appointment is needed at this time.

You are asked to wait outside or in your car prior to your appointment, or find that you are the only person in the waiting room. In the waiting room, there will no longer be any reading materials, so bring your own! 

The dental office will request you wear a mask or face covering over your nose and mouth to your appointment. How will you have your teeth worked on then? More about that in a bit.

Your temperature will be taken. A temperature of 100.4 or higher is considered a fever and you will be asked to reschedule your appointment. If you aren't feeling well, save yourself the trouble and stay home. 

You will be asked screening questions, again. A lot can actually happen in 24 to 48 hours when it comes to COVID. Depending on the area and infection rate, some dental and medical offices may require patients to have COVID testing (such as a nasal swab to test for active viral infection) prior to the appointment.

You may be asked to move about the office in a certain way. Dental offices with more than one accessible entrance and exit may ask that you enter in one door and leave through another. Offices with open bay areas may ask that you take a certain route as you walk. Often, this will be explained to you prior to your appointment.

Hygiene on Planet COVID

Once you have gotten to this point, the dentist, dental assistant, and dental hygienist, may look like people equipped to do hazmat decontamination. Starting at the top, hair coverings, goggles, face shields, masks, respirators, gloves, full lab coats, disposable gowns, and shoe coverings are being worn over traditional scrubs.

The exam or treatment room will have some new equipment, too, such as air filter units and/or new suction equipment designed to remove aerosols formed during treatment.

You will be asked to pre-rinse with a solution of hydrogen peroxide or similar type of rinse. This is when you finally remove your mask! 

You may find that your teeth are cleaned using tools different than those you are familiar with. Many dental hygienists are forgoing the use of electronic instruments, such as a cavitron, because they create aerosols that can contain the virus and take a long time to settle. Instead they are using hand scaling instruments. No worries there, your dental hygienist is a trained professional, however, it may take longer to have your teeth cleaned. 

In dentistry, infection control is done in a way that treats all patients as infectious. Because a person with COVID can be asymptomatic and still spread the virus, keeping aerosols as low as possible is considered to be safer. Likewise, your dentist may treat your small cavity with methods that don't require drilling, such as silver diamine fluoride, or interim restorative materials, that require less drilling. This may depend on what is going on in your community with regard to COVID rates of infection as well as your dental condition.

Your hygienist may not be her usual talkative self. Everyone has different personalities, but dental hygienists are known to be talkers, (if I do say so myself and may be so bold to generalize.) With all the extra equipment and new ways of working, your hygienist may not be up to conversation. 

These times are difficult, to say the least, and there is still much unknown about SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. It is important that everyone follow the recommended precautions to keep each other safe. If you are nervous about going to your dental appointment and do not have an urgent or emergency dental problem, it may be better to postpone it. If you can delay your dental cleaning or treatment, make sure you are doing your daily home care of brushing with a fluoride toothpaste and flossing, and following any instructions from your dentist.  If you must or want to go for a dental appointment, make sure to ask any questions you may have about any new procedures you are asked to follow. If you are in pain or have a dental problem do not delay to call your dentist.

This blog and post are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure, or advise about any dental or medical condition. Please see your dentist or doctor for any treatment you need. Take care and be safe!

'Social Distance' Your Toothbrush

'Toothbrush distancing' photo:YM

In my post earlier this week, (https://bit.ly/3aNTgxG), I included a tip about getting rid of your toothbrush if you've been ill, letting toothbrushes air dry, and storing them in a cabinet. Coincidentally, I was on a conference call the following day with a group of dental professionals when the topic of toothbrush care and COVID was raised. For your information and interest, I am passing along a webpage that was shared.

Please check out these links:

https://www.unitedconcordia.com/docs/Dental_Distancing_infographic.pdf

https://www.unitedconcordia.com/docs/ToothbrushSafetyFlyer.pdf

Hoping you are safe and well.

This blog post is not intended to treat, diagnose, or cure, any dental or medical condition or disease. Please consult with your medical or dental provider if you are ill. The sources cited do not constitute endorsement of any product or business, but are gratefully acknowledged. Source: unitedconcordia.com (accessed April 30, 2020).

When little things become big problems

These past several months of COVID-19 crisis have proven that health is everything and when it comes to health, it's often the little things that count: wash your hands, cover your mouth when you cough, don't touch your face, stay home from work when ill. It seems so simple.

Tooth brushes. photo: YM

And as anyone can see, when the little things aren't taken care of, problems get worse, quickly. While the current measures are hard on everyone, they can still be accomplished: physical distancing, wearing masks or mouth and nose coverings, staying home if at all possible.

For those fortunate enough to be healthy, it is important to keep in mind the daily habits that can help most people emerge from this crisis with health intact. Among other things that can be done to stay healthy, take walks, work out, avoid overeating or too much snacking, keep in touch with loved ones by phone, video, or email, take any regularly needed medications, and brush and floss each day.

Brush and Floss. photo:YM

Currently, most dentists and dental professionals are seeing only emergency patients: those with pain, swelling, or infection. They are trying to keep people out of emergency rooms and safe. Preventative care, like regular dental cleanings, need to be postponed. Plaque, left to grow in the mouth and on the teeth, causes inflammation of the gums and increases inflammation in the body. A cavity, once it starts to form, gets larger without treatment. The daily practice of brushing at least two times a day with a fluoride toothpaste for two minutes and flossing at least once a day can help maintain oral health, and avoid a dental emergency.

If you haven't been taking care of your teeth like you could, now is the perfect time to start. Once it's part of a daily routine, it can remain so for the rest of your life.

Hoping that you and your loved ones are safe and well.

TIP: If you have been sick, throw away your old toothbrush and use a new one. Always allow your toothbrush to air dry and store it in a cabinet.

This blog is not intended to diagnose or treat any dental or medical condition. If you are feeling ill, contact your dental or medical provider. Stay safe and well.

Teeth are for everyone

February is National Dental Children’s Health Month but it’s a good time to think about the health of your mouth no matter what your age. Dental health is a life-long endeavor and teeth need to be taken care of at every step along the way.

Women thinking of getting pregnant should go for a dental visit! Men who plan to be dads should go, too. Anyone planning to care for a child can decrease the risk of that child getting cavities by taking care of problems with their own teeth.

During pregnancy, dental care is totally safe and regular dental visits are encouraged. Inflammation in the mouth can affect the unborn child and is even associated with preterm birth.

Babies are born with all their baby teeth under their gums. Infant gums should be wiped with a soft, damp cloth after feedings to keep the mouth healthy because teeth start to come in at about 5 months of age. Breastfeeding a child is important to a child’s mouth development as it helps widen the roof of the mouth and contributes to having teeth that come in straight. A baby should never be put to bed with a bottle with anything in it but water as this can cause cavities. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Dental Association recommend a child’s first dental visit by age 1.

From the first tooth on, teeth should be brushed daily with a smear of fluoride tooth paste up to age three, a pea-sized amount ages three and up, and with supervision of brushing till age nine. Baby teeth really matter because they help with speech development and nutrition, and since kids lose them slowly until age 11 or 12, baby teeth are needed to hold the space for the adult, permanent teeth coming in.

Children should be encouraged to eat whole fruits and vegetables and avoid sugary drinks. A rule to live by for dental health is water anytime, milk with meals, sweet drinks - skip it! This goes for adults as well because ‘we are what we eat and drink’ and good nutrition is as important to teeth as it is to the rest of the body.

Adolescents, teens, and college-aged kids can really slack-off with personal hygiene and should be encouraged to continue with daily brushing and flossing. Scheduling regular dental visits during school breaks and summer breaks is a good way to ensure any dental problems are caught early. Adults are busy and can slack off on regular dental visits and hygiene, too.

total health-ym

There is especially a lack of flossing, which is needed to get rid of germs between teeth. Keeping floss handy and within reach at home, in the car, in your pack or purse, helps keep this good habit top of mind. Flossing keeps the gums healthy. Bleeding gums are not normal. Brushing and flossing regularly reduces bleeding and helps avoid worse problems with the gums and teeth down the road. It is important to see a dental professional right away if you are concerned about your teeth, gums, or having any mouth pain.

Finally, keeping your mouth healthy is not only good for your whole body, it is good for your wallet. A permanent, adult tooth that gets a cavity (which is an infection of the tooth) is now a weakened tooth. If the mouth continues to be neglected, that cavity can come back under a filling, get bigger, need a crown, a root canal, or even be lost and need to be replaced with a bridge or implant. It is estimated that one tooth can cost well over $6,000 to repair over a person’s lifetime.

Taking care of your teeth truly can pay off!

This blog and posts are not intended to diagnose or treat and should not be taken as medical or dental advice. If something is bothering you, say something. Your medical and dental professionals can help.

Hidden Pain

The Jon C Burr Foundation has developed the short documentary Hidden Pain: America's Oral Health Crisis. The film addresses the pain, suffering and enormous cost to the American people of not providing access to Oral Healthcare.   The purpose of the film is to shine a bright light on an issue that has grown in the darkness for far too long.  The film has been distributed to dental schools, community centers, churches and legislative offices in order to educate the public and encourage action. It can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EETIhbiGBI&feature=youtu.be

For more information on the Jon C Burr Foundation visit: joncburr.org

photo source: https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/basics/adult-oral-health/index.html