The Importance of Routine Dental Visits During COVID-19

With COVID-19 still a reality, you may be shifting your schedule and canceling various appointments. However, your routine dental checkup is a visit that shouldn’t get pushed! These appointments allow your dentist to prevent and detect issues before they become serious. One common dental problem, gum disease, affects more than just your gums. In fact, studies show that gum disease can have a negative impact on your immune system, which can increase your risk of infection. Read on to learn more about gum disease in East Longmeadow & Northampton as well as why your regular dental visits are vital for your overall health.

What is Gum Disease?

Gum disease is an inflammation and infection of the gums that occurs when plaque and bacteria buildup. When you don’t brush and floss your teeth regularly, plaque and food debris settle on the gumline, eventually causing inflammation. The initial symptoms are swollen, red, puffy, or bleeding gums. However, if left untreated, gum disease can lead to serious oral health problems like permanent gum tissue damage, jawbone deterioration, and tooth loss.

How Gum Disease Affects Your Body

Unfortunately, the negative effects of gum disease don’t stop there. New studies show that gum disease can increase the severity of COVID-19 if you become infected. The bacteria from gum disease spreads throughout the body, containing a harmful inflammatory, which increases the risk of respiratory failure. Additionally, your immune system is alerted when there is inflammation in the body. While it’s busy fighting off the inflammation, it can give viruses like COVID-19 a higher chance of infection.  

The Importance of Routine Dental Visits

Social distancing and staying at home is a great way to prevent COVID-19, but it’s vital to your oral and overall health that you don’t skip your biannual dental appointments. These visits allow your dentist to check for issues like gum disease before they can cause serious problems like the ones listed above. Caught early, gum disease can be completely reversed with regular cleanings and at-home dental hygiene. If your dentist does notice gum disease, they can recommend treatments like scaling and root planing to protect you from higher risks of additional health conditions, including COVID-19.

Quick Tips for Gum Disease Prevention at Home

Gum disease is completely preventable, and it’s your job to practice these easy yet effective dental hygiene tips:

• Brush twice a day for two minutes each session
• Floss once a day to remove lingering food debris
• Use a nonalcoholic mouthwash after brushing
• Drink lots of water

Just remember these tips and visit your dentist in East Longmeadow & Northampton to prevent gum disease while lowering your risk of the effects of COVID-19.

About the Practice

At EMA Dental, we have a team of 7 dentists who combine their training and expertise to provide exceptional dental services. They offer gum disease treatment options like scaling and root planing to keep their patients healthy and smiling. For any questions, they can be reached through their website or by phone at (413) 731-8800.