We are all highly anxious about the Coronavirus – and so we wanted to alert you that protecting your oral hygiene right now is an important way to stay safer and help stop the spread of COVID 19.  

For this reason, we at Antoine Dental Center are choosing to remain open – while practicing highly safe precautions and recommended protocol to protect you. (See more information on this here. )

In fact, health experts are consistently reporting that Coronavirus is mainly reaching your cells via fluid in the nose or throat that slip in via your voice box (aka: aspiration) and then slip down your windpipe and trachea. 

(Note: There are also reports that Coronavirus can spread via tiny particles inhaled in air.)

For these science based reasons, if you want to protect yourself against Coronavirus, it’s essential you keep your mouth and throat clear of infectious pathogens – both daily and nightly.

In fact – you should especially practice good oral hygiene at night – which is when aspiration usually happens.

What are the best oral hygiene rituals to decrease exposure to coronavirus?

Regularly brush, floss and use antiseptic mouthwash to protect your immunity.

You need to brush, floss and use antiseptic mouthwash – not only to protect against cavities, bad breath and tooth decay. But also to protect against bacteria spreading throughout your body – so you are more guarded against infectious diseases. 

In fact, many studies have reported that poor dental hygiene can lead to unexpected dangerous health consequences.

Why does poor oral health lead to health dangers?

Mouth bacteria is constantly creating sticky plaque between your teeth, which can only be removed by twice daily brushing and flossing. 

Unfortunately, if plaque isn’t removed, it becomes tartar. Plaque and tartar on your teeth have bacteria – which then cause inflammation of your gums (aka: gingivitis). This leads to your gums becoming swollen and bleeding easily.

If left untreated, gingivitis will lead to periodontitis – a major health endangering gum disease. 

Your gums will pull away from your teeth – making you far more vulnerable to infections of all kinds – including the Coronavirus

Bacteria from your mouth will enter your bloodstream.

If you don’t take good care of your oral hygiene, bacteria of your mouth will eventually enter your bloodstream and stick to your platelets – making you especially vulnerable to illnesses of all kinds – including infectious diseases of all kinds and heart attacks. 

Many chronic conditions increase your risk for periodontal disease and thereby hurt your immunity even more.

If you have diabetes right now, you already have a weakened immune system, which thereby makes you more vulnerable to  periodontal disease  – which can then further make you more vulnerable to COVID-19.

What happens if you don’t protect yourself from periodontal diseases (i.e. gingivitis) during a pandemic?

If your teeth and gums are not taken care of properly, the bone that supports your teeth might become lost, and your gums might become infected. 

Plus, on top of this, your teeth will have less bone support – and might become loose. Eventually they might have to be extracted.

Poor Oral Hygiene Can Also Lead to Heart Attacks.

A 2008 study showed that the mouth bacteria created by plaque and tartar can spread throughout your body – leading to people forming blood clots – which can interrupt the flow of blood to your heart. 

As a result, poor oral hygiene will make you especially vulnerable to heart attacks. And in American, heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women.

How to Protect Your Oral Hygiene at Home – To Protect Against COVID-19.

• Brush your floss twice daily.
• Clean your tongue.
• Use an antiseptic mouthwash. (Note: Health experts report that COVID-19 is particularly vulnerable to oxidation. So use a mouth rinse containing oxidative agents such as 1% hydrogen peroxide or 0.2% povidone.

More Key Facts about Oral Hygiene and Diseases

• Oral diseases are the most common noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) – and can cause pain, disfigurement and even death.
• The Global Burden of Disease Study 2016 reported that oral diseases are hurting half of the world’s population – with tooth decay in permanent teeth being the number one prevalent problem.
• Severe periodontal gum disease (which can lead to tooth loss) is reported to be the 11th most prevalent disease globally.

What precautions are we at Antoine Dental Center in Houston taking to prevent the spread of infection?

Our dental professionals are highly aware that we work in close quarters. And so we have developed particularly heightened measures for sterilization and disinfection. 

We are strictly following each and every one of the “Centers for Disease Control and Prevention” recommended infection control procedures to prevent the spread of disease. 

We passionately care about your safety and are rigorously working hard to prevent the spread of infection. 

What specific extra precautions are we taking during this Coronavirus pandemic?

• We are doing heightened screening for potential COVID-19 patients – as well as our staff.
• We are requiring increased intervals between appointments and patients to minimize cross infection.
• Infection control precautions require our dental staff to use appropriate protective equipment such as gloves, masks, gowns and eyewear. 
• After each patient, disposable gloves and masks are thrown away. 
• Before seeing the next patient, everyone on the treatment team washes their hands and put on a new pair of gloves.
• Before you enter our examining rooms, all surfaces are cleaned and disinfected. The dental chair, dental light, drawer handles and counter tops, etc..
• We cover all equipment with protective covers, which are 100% replaced after each patient.
• Non-disposable items like the dental tools are ALWAYS cleaned and sterilized between patients. 
• Disposable dental tools and needles are NEVER reused. 
• We’re using HEPA Air purifiers, Negative ion generators and UVC Sanitizers
• We are requiring mouth rinse before dental procedures
• We’re using rubber dam isolation with high speed turbo oral aerosol vacuum suction hose
• We have Anti-retraction headpieces

Important Coronavirus Reminder:

If you are uncertain about coming to your dental appointment, please stay home. If you are sick or have any cold and flu-like symptoms, please stay home.  We ask you to reschedule appointments 14 days after your symptoms have subsided.  Also if you have traveled out of the country in the last 14 days, please call us to reschedule your dental visit.

If you have any questions or to schedule an appointment please give us a call at (713) 691-8880.

Final General Hygiene Reminder to protect against COVID-19:

• Stop touching your face – particularly your nose and mouth which are major entry portals for germs and the new coronavirus.
• Wash your hands and face regularly with soap and warm water.
• Use hand sanitizers regularly – if you have them.
• Clean your home regularly – particularly “high touch” areas like doorknobs and faucets.