One Year of COVID: The Damaging Effect on Oral Health

The Covid-19 pandemic continues to affect the world, with over one million confirmed cases in Canada alone. While Covid-19 has caused disruption in so many areas, one of the hidden effects of the pandemic is based around oral health, with health professionals believing that the current situation facing the dental industry is highly-worrying, with one labelling it as a “dental disaster”.

It has been over a year since Covid-19 started to cause havoc across Canada, with restrictions remaining in place to this day. Social distancing, wearing masks and lockdowns have all become part of day-to-day life.

Everyone is aware of the deadly nature of Covid-19, which has caused (at the time of writing) over three million deaths around the world [1]. However, there are also many unseen consequences of the deadly virus. One area that has been heavily affected by the global pandemic is the dental health of the population, with dentists and health professionals warning against long-term oral damage as a result of Covid-19.

“A Dental Disaster”

Such is the damage caused, Dr. Gerhard Konrad Seeberger, the President of the FDI World Dental Federation, has referred to the current situation as “a dental disaster” [2].

Dentists have been speaking about a higher incidence of tooth decay and gum disease since the Covid-19 restrictions began. Causes of this aren’t entirely clear, though increased snacking between meals and poor mental health and associated overeating appear to be potential aggravating factors.

Perhaps the biggest factor has been dental appointment postponements. Unfortunately, the restrictions have meant that many dental clinics have been forced into postponing regular appointments, and instead have been purely focusing on emergency treatments.

Many people have therefore not attended the dentist in over a year, which is leading to an increase in undetected dental problems.

The effects of poor oral health

Statistics show that only 37.5% of Canadians brush their teeth twice a day [3], with many neglecting their oral health. Poor oral hygiene can result in many problems, including physical health problems.

Unfortunately, for many people that have not attended the dentist in over a year, they are likely to be having dental problems. If left untreated, simple cavities can develop into more serious problems.

Then there is gum disease, which the Canadian Dental Association have found will affect seven out of ten Canadians at some point in their lives [4]. Early detection of gum disease is crucial, as the earlier treatment begins, the better the chance of successful treatment. But missing appointments has meant these problems are left untreated for too long.

It is therefore important for us to all consistently brush our teeth at least twice a day, floss regularly, and have a nutritious diet. Ultimately, this can help fight against decaying teeth that can cause many problems.

What we can offer our patients at Savanna Dental

At Savanna Dental we are aware of the problems that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on the population. It is entirely understandable that in a year where we have all been battling to survive, that trips to the dentist may not be considered as an essential thing to do.

But the truth is, delaying dental check-ups can result in multiple problems, as this article has shown. We understand that many people are apprehensive regarding visiting the dentist after a long time away, but we offer a comfortable and non-judgmental environment for our patients.

We are a Calgary dental clinic, and provide services such as fillings, root canals, dentures, scaling and more. We are always happy to help our patients, and will provide an effective and tailored treatment plan to meet their needs.

Summary

We are all aware of the impact caused by Covid-19. But very few are aware of the impact the pandemic is having on oral health. It is now more important than ever before to look after our mouths.

Attending regular dental appointments is crucial, and can keep our oral health strong. We would love you to visit our Calgary-based dental clinic Savanna Dental, click here to visit our website https://savannadentalclinic.ca, where you can see the great range of services available to our patients.

• [1] BBC News. (2021). Covid-19 deaths pass three million worldwide. Available: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-56783878. Last accessed: 30th April 2021.
• [2] FDI World Dental Federation. (2021). FDI – Dental disaster: One year after first lockdowns dentists around the world confront the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on people’s oral health: higher incidence of tooth decay and more advanced gum disease. Available: https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/fdi-dental-disaster-one-year-after-first-lockdowns-dentists-around-the-world-confront-the-consequences-of-the-covid-19-pandemic-on-people-s-oral-health-higher-incidence-of-tooth-decay-and-more-advanced-gum-disease-890594795.html. Last accessed: 2nd May 2021.
• [3] Statistics Canada. (2018). Dental Care, 2018. Available: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/82-625-x/2019001/article/00010-eng.htm. Last accessed: 1st May 2021.
• [4] Canadian Dental Association. (2021). Gum Disease FAQs. Available: https://www.cda-adc.ca/en/oral_health/faqs/gum_diseases_faqs.asp. Last accessed: 30th April 2021.