The Link Between Covid and Your Oral Health
Posted on 8th September 2021 at 15:14
New evidence has suggested that dental plaque accumulation and periodontal inflammation intensify the chance of Covid-19 reaching the lungs and causing severe cases. The revelation comes after an international team of researchers from the UK, South Africa, and the USA published their findings in the Journal of Oral Medicine and Dental Research. With this in mind, it’s never been more important to keep on top of your gum health.
Covid-19 and your gum health
As gum disease causes your gums to become leakier, microorganisms can easily enter the bloodstream. Brushing daily and flossing to remove plaque helps reduce inflammation and could potentially decrease the virus’ concentration in saliva, mitigate the evolution of lung disease, and reduce the risk of severe cases of Covid-19.
Further research is being carried out to substantiate the theories, but in the meantime, it’s essential that you keep your gums in the best shape possible.
How to spot gum disease
Attending routine hygienist appointments at least once a year is crucial if you want to stop plaque from becoming a threat to the health of your mouth. However, if you spot any blood when brushing and flossing but it is not yet time for your routine appointment, you should come in and see us. Statistics have shown that 1 in 5 Brits immediately stop brushing the bleeding area, and 8% stop brushing altogether. These worrying statistics demonstrate why gum disease is the number one reason for tooth loss in adults. The earlier gum disease is stopped in its tracks, the easier it is to treat. Chronic bad breath is also a reason to come in and get a check-up as soon as possible.
Helping you maintain healthy gums
At Park Dental Care, we place significant emphasis on the idea of prevention rather than cure. During your routine hygienist appointments, we will always work to encourage you and help nurture your at-home routine as you move through the different stages in your life. Your oral health needs will change as you get older, and coming in for regular appointments allows us to address problems early and advise on how you can amend your lifestyle to suit those needs.
Here for you, whatever your needs
Although we are keen to reinforce the importance of prevention, if you do require complex treatment for advanced gum disease, we can help. We have extensive experience in providing full mouth rehabilitation for patients who have lost teeth to gum disease and have state-of-the-art equipment at the practice to make your treatment experience as streamlined as possible.
If you’re looking for a hygienist or dentist in the Nottingham area, take a look at our New Patient section, where you can learn more about how we do things at Park Dental Care.
If you would like to book in for a specific treatment or routine appointment, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our friendly reception team.
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