Author: Somos Dental

The new Coronavirus crisis has lasted longer than expected. Several cities have been under lockdown for almost half a year, and since the spike in new cases of Coronavirus (Covid-19), it seems that we will need to wait longer for things to go back to normal. We have noticed that there are people who want to know how to keep an appropriate dental care routine, since they cannot or do not want to visit their dental office until things calm down. That is why in this article we will post an adequate dental care routine you can stick to so you can rest in your house until an actual dental emergency takes you to the dentist.

Brush your teeth three times a day

This is a piece of basic advice that has always been given. However, a lot of people have changed habits since being in lockdown, and they do not take the time to brush three times a day as before the quarantine. Use your preferred toothpaste and toothbrush and brush your teeth after every main food in your day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner).

Brushing helps by removing food debris and bacteria from your mouth. If you leave your teeth without brushing, the food residues will create bacteria that will eat your tooth enamel, resulting in cavities and bad breath.

Floss at least once a day

There are places where the traditional toothbrush can’t reach. These places can be cleaned by flossing. Once that someone finished flossing, they should rinse the mouth and check for any food debris leftovers.

How to floss

In a past Blog entry we already shared this information. However, the National Institute of Aging shared this guide on how to floss correctly:

Try to reduce stress

A lot of the damage that our teeth take is due to bad stress coping strategies. These can be such as clenching teeth, biting objects (such as pen caps, clips, etc.), and so on.

This is why if you have been having difficulties with stress during this quarantine, you should try to look for alternative ways of relieving stress, such as meditation, electronic counseling, electronic psychotherapy, and so on.

Where can I go if I have dental problems in the Phoenix Metro Area?

you have a dental emergency, or you are looking for an affordable a good quality elective procedure, you can call us at Somos Dental. In Somos Dental we are offering emergency care and elective treatment during the Coronavirus crisis. We continuously clean, sterilize, and disinfect every corner, surface, machine, and tool in our dental offices while we only see one client at the time. In Somos Dental we want to do everything in our hands to control the Coronavirus Crisis. If you are looking for an affordable and high-quality dental service in the Phoenix Metro Area you can contact us through our different options, such as Facebook Messenger, phone call, Whatsapp, or e-mail. We are located in 5 different points: Downtown, Desert Sky, Mesa, and Camelback. Give us a call at 623-232-0089 if you have any questions.

The U.S. has become the new global epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic. As of April 22, 2020, the United States has already broken the 800,000’s mark of COVID-19 cases. Regulations have been imposed for weeks now, however; they have been changing continuously as the virus has continued to spread across the country. Generally, restrictions have become stricter as new cases and deaths are being confirmed daily.

The whole country has been locked down in an attempt to slow the propagation of the virus. The State of Arizona has not been exempted since it has also been hit by the virus and many non-essential tasks, services, and errands will be postponed until further notice. These include non-urgent dental appointments, such as routine checkups and cleanings. Now here is some pertinent information to answer this important question:

Is it safe to visit the dentist?

That is the question that a lot of people with pending dental work and procedures are asking. The federal and state governments have mandated that dental offices can only see patients that have a dental emergency. This means that braces, cleanings, aesthetical implants, and most other cases are not to be seen until further notice.

Even though dental tools and machines are disinfected and sterilized, there is a problem with the COVID-19 virus. The coronavirus goes into the air after a dental procedure that uses a drill or a scaler, which leaves live viruses in the air for up to 3 hours. This can be dangerous for both the dental health practitioner and the patient. That is why the federal and state governments have restricted dental appointments to solely dental emergencies. This is a way to slow down the mass infections that have been taking place in the last weeks.

What is considered a dental emergency?

According to the American Dental Association, amidst the coronavirus pandemic, the following guideline specifies what can be considered a dental emergency case, which will require immediate attention:

• Bleeding that does not stop
• Painful swelling in or around your mouth
• Pain in a tooth, teeth or jawbone
• Gum infection with pain or swelling
• After surgery treatment (dressing change, stitch removal)
• Broken or knocked-out tooth
• Denture adjustment for people receiving radiation or other treatment for cancer
• Snipping or adjusting wire of braces that hurts your cheek or gums
• Biopsy of abnormal tissue

The full list of what is and what is not considered an emergency can be found in the following image.

Guidelines according to the American Dental Association

At Somos Dental we want to do everything possible to slow down the Coronavirus pandemic that has been affecting the world, that is why you should call or message us to find out if your case is considered an emergency. At Somos Dental we have a team of great professionals! If you need to contact us for a dental emergency, you can do so through messenger on Facebook, by phone or by email. We have 5 locations throughout the Phoenix Metro Area and they are open for only limited days and hours: Downtown, Desert Sky, Mesa and Camelback. Give us a call at 623-232-0089 if you have any questions.