Oh, how things have changed. Over the past couple of years, many people have gone from in-office work to being remote employees. What does this mean exactly? There are more Zoom meetings than ever and sometimes you can simply get away with working all day in your sweatpants. At My Rivertown Dentist, we’ll be the first to admit that we’re all human and sometimes things fall to the wayside — including sticking to your regular routine for brushing and flossing your teeth.
There are countless articles like this, where dentists from across the country are talking about how they’re seeing a big decline in regular “daily oral hygiene habits since the dawn of the pandemic.” What’s the reason? At My Rivertown Dentist, we can tell you it’s mostly due to COVID-related shutdowns, lifestyle changes, and even emotional distress. It was also double challenging for parents who had their kids home from school while trying to work at the same time. In all of the craziness and madness, sometimes we forget to brush our teeth.
In this New York Times article, one dentist reveals how she was also astounded to see more and more fractured teeth. Dr. Tammy Chen said, “But when I reopened my practice in early June, the fractures started coming in: at least one a day, every single day that I’ve been in the office. On average, I’m seeing three to four; the bad days are six-plus fractures.” But why? It turns out (and your Madison dentist can also speak to this), added stress could cause excessive grinding or bruxism, especially during restless sleep. When you grind your teeth, they are put at an extreme risk for developing fractures.
Guess what else has been causing oral health issues recently? It’s pandemic snacking. When we need a little comfort, it’s easy to turn to those oh-so-good snacks we love, even though they may not be tooth-friendly. Comfort food and drinks tend to have more sugar than normal and constant grazing or snacking, along with a decrease in brushing can spell tooth trouble. It’s important to keep your teeth clean, especially after indulging in sugar, gooey snacks.
First and foremost, if you or your family is behind on your routine dental care, please schedule some time to see us at our Madison dental office. We’ve got some great things going for you that can help improve your dental and overall health — for kids and adults alike. When you keep up with your regular checkups and examinations, it allows us to detect any concerns like cavities, gum disease, or oral cancer early when they’re still easily treatable. From general dentistry to one-of-a-sleep apnea assessment in adults and kids, My Rivertown Dentist has your oral health covered that truly spans from head to toe. Under the expert guidance of Dr. Ashley Lee and her partnership with The Institute for Craniofacial Medicine, we can even see beyond routine smile care for our patients using special oral appliances created by Vivos Therapeutics to help guide jaw development.
