You have been told to stay home as much as possible since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is great advice and social distancing is a must during this time. But the truth is that your dental office is not one of the locations that you should be avoiding because of the virus. In fact, visiting your dentist is essential to your overall health! Continue reading to learn more about why you shouldn’t delay your visit to your dentist in Melbourne.
Dental Visits Are Essential!
Even though you always walk out of the office with a bright, squeaky clean smile, that is just the beginning of it. When you go in for your regular visits, your dentist clears away plaque and tartar that builds up and causes oral health problems. They also check your mouth for early signs of serious conditions like gum disease and oral cancer. Catching these diseases early on is essential in order to make a full recovery.
In addition to dental visits being crucial to your oral health, they are also necessary for the health of your entire body. After all, the mouth is the gateway to the rest of your body. If you don’t have a healthy smile, chances are that you could be struggling somewhere else. Heart disease, diabetes, certain cancers, respiratory disease, and rheumatoid arthritis can all be linked to periodontal disease. Having your oral health issues under control benefits your whole body.
Oral Health Affects Your Immune System
If you aren’t taking good care of your smile by keeping up good oral hygiene and seeing your dentist on a regular basis, you will eventually have a buildup of bacteria in your mouth. Not only does this cause bad breath, but it can cause you to develop periodontal disease when it builds up around your teeth and gumline. When your gums are infected, you will require the help of both your dentist and your immune system to get better. As strong as your immune system is, it can only do so many things at one time. If it is focused on fighting against intruders in the mouth, you can more easily develop another infection someplace else in the body and become sick.
Your Dental Office Is Safe
Healthcare workers, including dentists, are required to follow strict guidelines so they can treat their patients in a clean, safe environment. Here are some measures that your dentist is always taken to prevent the spread of illnesses in the office:
- Sanitation: The instruments used to clean your mouth are always properly sterilized using an autoclave between each patient. Surfaces throughout the practice are also regularly disinfected.
- Personal Hygiene: Everyone working in the office is required to wash their hands frequently to prevent the spread of germs between them and others in the practice.
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Your dental team always wears PPE when caring for patients. This includes a surgical mask, disposable gloves, and anything else your dentist deems necessary for the particular treatment.
Your dentist is doing everything in their power to keep themselves, their staff, and their patients safe from becoming sick. This way, you can still get oral care with peace of mind.
About the Author
Dr. Beverly Rose is a well experienced dentist serving patients in the Melbourne, FL area. She earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine from the University of Florida College of Dentistry and has been in private practice for over two decades. Dr. Rose is also an alumnus of the prestigious Las Vegas Institute and regularly attends clinical seminars to enhance her knowledge. If you have any questions, concerns, or would like to schedule an appointment, visit her website or call (321) 259-4666