Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, and Lincolnshire IL
Since the dawning of the pandemic, health officials recommend frequent hand washing, avoiding crowds, wearing a mask in public, and staying home when sick as the most significant measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes make an individual more likely to catch the coronavirus and experience severe symptoms. Now, a new study reveals that poor oral hygiene may increase one’s susceptibility to getting COVID-19. Today on the blog, learn how poor oral hygiene could increase one’s risk of getting COVID-19 and ways to reduce your susceptibility to this deadly virus.
What does it mean to have poor oral hygiene?
Poor oral hygiene means that you have tender or inflamed gums that bleed. You may experience chronic bad breath, develop cavities often, and have gum recession or loose teeth. Surprisingly, almost half of adults in America have some form of gum disease, which starts as gingivitis. This stage is reversible with consistent at-home oral hygiene and by sticking to your routine dental cleanings twice a year. If you skip brushing your teeth as recommended by your dentist, you don’t floss regularly, and you don’t go to the dentist for routine cleanings and checkups, you are more likely to have gum disease.
Why is gum disease so serious?
Gum disease is serious because it is linked to causing many dental health problems, such as bad breath, cavities, toothaches, and lost teeth. It is the number one reason adults lose their permanent teeth or have to get them extracted. But also, gum disease is linked to an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, and even Alzheimer’s disease. Harmful oral bacteria enter the bloodstream when periodontal pockets form along the base of the teeth as a result of untreated gum disease. The bacteria cause an infection in the gums, which spreads to the jawbone, other teeth, and throughout the body and into the heart or brain, if not managed properly with daily oral hygiene and professional dental treatments.
How can I keep myself protected from gum disease?
If you want to decrease your susceptibility to COVID, take better care of your teeth! Aim to brush your teeth twice a day and floss daily. These efforts remove harmful bacteria (naturally occurring in everyone’s mouths) that lead to cavities and gum disease. But maintain your oral health is about more than just brushing and flossing. Everyone develops hard, stuck-on tartar buildup that can only be scraped away by a professional dental cleaning. The American Dental Association recommends these visits to everyone twice a year or once every six months. However, it is often recommended for gum disease patients to visit the dentist more frequently through repetitive therapy until their oral health achieves a healthy balance.
The good news is that most dental insurance plans cover most, if not all of these preventive care appointments, which include basic dental cleanings, an examination, and x-rays. If you’re paying for these benefits and not going to the dentist, you’re basically wasting your money if you aren’t taking advantage and sticking to your twice-yearly dental cleanings.
Family Dentists in Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, and Lincolnshire
At Lake Forest Smiles, we believe that a healthy smile should be attainable by everyone. We offer family dentistry services and welcome patients of all ages. If you would like to learn more about protecting your oral health or schedule an appointment, please call Lake Forest Smiles at (847) 234-4800.