Is cavities or toothache due to corona?
Spreading anxiety about your mouth September 17, 19:30
There are voices on the Internet
saying "I can't brush my teeth with corona"
, complaining about tooth decay and oral health due to the effects of the new coronavirus.
After investigating, I found that the changes in life caused by corona and wearing a mask could have an adverse effect on teeth.
(Network News Department reporters Aya Noda, Naoya Saito)
"Toothache is increasing after corona"
On SNS, there are many voices saying that the new coronavirus is affecting oral health.
One dentist pointed out that "the number of people who have a toothache has increased especially after corona," and "when I go to the dentist because I have a toothache, I may be clenching my teeth due to bruxism or stress." It was pointed out that the stress of corona bruxism is affecting the teeth.
Especially noticeable were
"I'm sure I have cavities. I didn't go to the dentist's regular checkups in Corona.",
"I had cavities around January, but it hurt when I hesitated in Corona." There are a number of cases that hesitate to visit the clinic.
Stop brushing teeth in the nursery school
Some voices like this.
"I
have stopped brushing my teeth because of my nursery school corona
." It is
said that the tooth brushing instruction at the nursery school was canceled because of the prevention of infection with the new coronavirus.
We talked to a woman in her 30s in Gifu prefecture who has a 5-year-old daughter who posted this post.
Female in her 30s, Gifu Prefecture
"I want my children to get into the habit of brushing their teeth after meals, so I tell them to brush their teeth after every meal at home.
I can't brush my teeth only after lunch at the nursery school, and now I have cavities. I'm in trouble
because I can do it. I want you to resume brushing your teeth if possible to prevent tooth decay. "
Who is the person in charge of the local government that has jurisdiction over the nursery school?
Local government official
"We stopped gargling and brushing teeth after meals at the request of parents and staff who feel uneasy about infection. Since the measures have been taken since then, gargling has already resumed and we are considering resuming tooth brushing guidance. Masu "
A copy of the dentist's consultation
Another factor that affects dental health is the refusal to visit a dentist's office.
This woman also temporarily refrained from taking her daughter to the dentist's office because of anxiety about being infected with the new coronavirus since this spring.
Female in her 30s, Gifu Prefecture
"I was afraid that my child would be infected with the new coronavirus, so I was refraining from taking him to the dentist's office. I used to have regular medical examinations, but my corona became serious. I haven't been there since early spring. "
According to an internet survey conducted by "Sakuratsutsumi Ami Dental" in Musashino City, Tokyo in August, targeting more than 1,100 parents who have children in elementary school who are undergoing dental caries treatment, "House time increases and the risk of dental caries increases. It was found that 69% of the respondents think that it was.
Reasons for this include not being able to go to the dentist and having more opportunities to eat sweets.
When asked "Is the child's dental caries treatment continued as planned?", 46% answered "It is done as planned", while 38% answered "It is longer than planned" and "Discontinue treatment". 9% of the respondents said that they had dental caries treatment, and nearly half of them were found to be affected by dental caries treatment.
Many people said they were worried about sending their children to the dentist's office because of the corona sickness.
In some cases, the patient is absent from consultation
Shigeto Amino, the director of the dental clinic that conducted the questionnaire, also realizes that there are a number of cases in which regular medical care is reduced or canceled due to concerns about infection with the new coronavirus.
As a result of refraining from regular medical examinations, the number of children who come to the hospital after the cavities have become severe is becoming more prominent.
Director Shigeto Amino
"In some cases, a 5-year-old child was procrastinating the semi-annual medical examination due to the influence of corona, and serious tooth decay was found. Dental care at home is important, but it is solid. Even if you check it, it is difficult to find the initial cavities, and when symptoms such as pain appear, it is possible that you are already seriously ill. Permanent teeth that will be used for a lifetime, teeth and may be affected. "
Does the mask also affect the mouth?
In addition, Mr. Seira Sekoguchi, Managing Director of the Japan Dental Association, points out that masks can also cause oral problems.
Mr. Seira Sekoguchi, Managing Director of the Japan Dental Association
"Wearing a mask
reduces
the chances of talking and moving the mouth, and it is also pointed out that mouth breathing increases, and the amount of saliva produced tends to decrease. Yes, it makes it easier for mouth bacteria to accumulate, increasing the risk of tooth decay and periodontal disease. You may also be concerned about mouth odor. "
Managing Director Sekoguchi says that it is also necessary to pay attention to "bruxism at night", which is affected by the stress caused by changes in the living environment caused by the new coronavirus.
Mr. Seira Sekoguchi, Managing Director, Japan Dental Association
"Strong bruxism may cause your teeth to crack or chip. People with periodontal disease may have their teeth shaken or their jaw joints hurt. There is. "
Don't refrain from seeing a doctor
I asked the Japan Dental Association how to prepare for the corona virus.
The Japan Dental Association is calling for the prevention of infection with the new coronavirus, saying, "We are asking you to consider postponing treatments that have few problems even if you postpone them, regular medical examinations, and home-visit medical care." If you feel it, do not refrain from seeing a doctor and ask him to see you immediately.
Japan Dental Association
"If you refrain from seeing a
doctor at your
own discretion, your oral illness may worsen. Do not judge for yourself whether the treatment can be postponed, but ask your dentist. It's important to have them judge. "
At each dental clinic, disinfection, hand washing, thorough ventilation, and appointment adjustments to reduce the number of patients in the waiting room have been made, and there have been no reports of infection of patients through dental treatment.
Awareness to increase saliva secretion
He points out that it is important to increase saliva production in order to reduce the risk of tooth decay and periodontal disease.
1. Chew well
When eating
, chew
as much as possible to make saliva easier to come out.
It is effective to chew 30 times per mouth as a guide.
2. Saliva gland massage The
Japan Dental Association recommends "saliva gland massage".
It has the effect of improving the function of the mouth and allowing saliva to come out more often.
It seems that there is also a merit that the facial expression is lively.
Bruxism prevention is stress relief
He says that relieving stress is the best way to prevent bruxism.
Japan Dental Association
"Relieving stress is the best medicine. For that purpose, it is effective to talk with people, but the chances of meeting people are decreasing. It makes me
feel better when I talk to someone over the phone etc. , Because it moves the mouth, it becomes easier for the liquid to come out. "
It seems that the new coronavirus does not directly affect tooth decay or the oral environment, but it has been found that there are various effects of changes in life.
Why don't you take a look at your current behavior to protect your precious mouth and teeth?