{"id":365,"date":"2020-08-03T21:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-08-03T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patrickcrowleydds.com\/blog\/?p=365"},"modified":"2020-09-01T21:01:05","modified_gmt":"2020-09-01T21:01:05","slug":"4-reasons-why-you-shouldnt-skip-your-regular-dental-checkups-during-covid-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patrickcrowleydds.com\/blog\/2020\/08\/03\/4-reasons-why-you-shouldnt-skip-your-regular-dental-checkups-during-covid-19\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Reasons Why You Shouldn\u2019t Skip Your Regular Dental Checkups During Covid-19"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Whether it\u2019s due to normal dental anxiety or worry that the dentist\u2019s office isn\u2019t clean enough to prevent infection, there are a lot of reasons why people have been putting off their routine dental checkups<\/a> lately. However, these biannual appointments play an important role in ensuring excellent oral and general health, both of which are crucial considering we\u2019re in the midst of a pandemic. If you\u2019ve been thinking about postponing your checkup, your dentist has four reasons why you should reconsider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Give Your Teeth Some Post-Quarantine Care<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With a large portion of the American workforce doing their jobs from home these days, many people are eating more often than they did before, as the kitchen is just a short walk away. However, frequent snacking can seriously damage your smile. A dental cleaning is a great way to conceal unwanted stains, correct chips, and treat potentially painful cavities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your Dentist Can Detect Non-Dental Health Issues<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although routine checkups primarily serve as a way to spot warning signs of tooth decay and gum disease, they do a lot more than just that. Believe it or not, 90 percent of health concerns display symptoms in the mouth, allowing your dentist to diagnose them early on. To ensure you have excellent overall health, your dentist will check for signs of conditions like diabetes, osteoporosis, and HIV.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Good Oral Health Keeps Your Whole Body Healthier<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Regular cleanings remove plaque and tartar that have accumulated in your mouth. Skipping out on cleanings gives them ample time to contribute to oral infections. When your immune system is busy fighting an infection in your mouth, it can\u2019t focus on combatting illness elsewhere in the body. This increases the risk of serious complications if you were to catch Covid-19. For this reason, teeth cleanings can greatly benefit your general health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dentists Are Experts in Infection Control<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dental offices were incredibly safe before the pandemic. If anything, they\u2019ve only gotten better at minimizing the risk of infection in the past few months. Your dentist has implemented many additional safety protocols<\/a> to set your mind at ease, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n