The coronavirus (COVID-19) is causing massive disturbances to our daily life. The stress alone from this crisis can have negative impacts on your overall health. We at Austin Dental Care want to keep you updated on our team’s response to COVID-19, as well as provide you with some tips on maintaining your dental health during this stressful time.
Austin Dental Care’s Response to COVID-19
Due to the escalating COVID crisis, Governor Abbott has declared all non-emergency dental procedures be postponed until April 21. Our office will be closed during this period of time until this pandemic passes.
Our main goal has always been to protect the health of our patients, our team and our community. If you do have an emergency, please contact Dr. Wainwright at (512) 426-2628 and you will be taken care of. Any and all appointments that needed to be canceled will be rescheduled at an appropriate time in the future.
We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause as we are navigating this unknown situation with ever-changing recommendations. Additionally, if these closing dates fluctuate we will let you know as soon as possible. We wish you all good health and thank you for your patience during this time.
Tips for Maintaining Your Dental Health
While we are unable to provide our typical general, cosmetic, and restorative services during this time, we want to provide you with some tips on maintaining your dental health outside of the dentist’s office. Here are our tips:
Continue Brushing and Flossing Your Teeth
While this may seem like an obvious tip, we want to emphasize the importance of maintaining your oral hygiene care even under this period of high-stress. Our daily routines are all thrown off right now, and this can make it easy to forget things like brushing and flossing. Maintain your normal schedule if at all possible, and remember to brush and floss as soon as you wake up and before you go to bed. This will go a long way in preventing future dental concerns that could pop up later if you neglect your oral hygiene routine now.
Relax Your Facial Muscles
During this time of high stress, make sure you keep your facial muscles relaxed. This can be easier said than done as many patients are unaware they hold so much tension in their facial muscles and jawbone. Teeth grinding and jaw clenching are common responses to high-stress and can have negative impacts on your overall health. You should leave yourself reminders around your home to periodically relax your face and move your jaw around to reduce the tension that could potentially cause jaw pain.
Eat a Well-Balanced Diet
Under high stress, it can be tempting to during to comfort foods. However, many comfort foods and substances contain staining agents or sugars that can ruin your teeth. You should do your best to maintain a well-balanced diet during this time. Moderation is the key. Limit your intake of substances like hard-candies, potato chips, sodas, coffee, and tea.
We look forward to seeing all of our patients again once this crisis subsides. Please contact us if you suspect you’re dealing with a dental emergency, and we will schedule you an appointment as soon as possible.