It’s been a long year and a half, and many of us are ready to get back to life as usual. With the widespread availability of the COVID-19 vaccine, many Americans are beginning to be more social, gathering together with friends, seeing movies, visiting family, and taking vacations. But before you hop on that next flight, are you forgetting something? How about your oral health.
If you have been putting off taking care of your physical or oral health, now is the time to get back into the swing of things and start caring for yourself again. Self-care has always been important, but after a year and a half that has brought so much stress and fear, self-care has never been more important.
If you have been putting off physicals or eye doctor appointments, now is the time to schedule. A lot can change about our health in a year, and it’s important to keep up annual visits to your doctor, especially now that effective sanitizing procedures are in place.
As far as your oral health has been concerned, dentists around the globe have reported a dramatic increase in cavities, gum diseases, chipped or cracked teeth, and other oral health problems since the onset of the pandemic. This can be due to many reasons, including increased stress and anxiety, and decreased trips to the dentist.
Here at Dr. Mingus’ office, we have strict cleaning protocols in place, and we are happy to see patients for all of their oral health care needs. If you’ve been stressed and find your jaw aching, you could be subconsciously grinding your teeth or clenching your jaw. If you’ve noticed chips or cracks in your teeth, this could also be from teeth grinding, something which occurs during times of high stress.
We recommend dental exams twice per year. If you have not been seen in the last six months, it’s time for your exam. This can help us intervene if we notice signs of cavities or gum disease. Putting off these problems does not make them go away, unfortunately. In fact, it can make them a lot worse, so don’t be afraid to come back. Small problems have a way of becoming much bigger. That cavity can turn into a root canal before you know it!
While we do recommend you remain vigilant and follow CDC guidelines about COVID-19, we hope you’ll return to caring for your oral health. If you have any questions or concerns about our in-office protocols, please give us a call today.