WHY IS YOUR DENTIST ASKING YOU TO RINSE BEFORE YOUR APPOINTMENT?
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed so much about the way that many of us work. Many office workers are adjusting to the unique challenges of working from home. Essential workers like grocery store cashiers and nurses are putting their lives on the line every day to deliver their services. Your dentist in Hurst is included in that population. One way that they’ve changed the way they work is by asking patients to rinse their mouth out before the appointment begins. Why is that? Keep reading to learn the answer.
Why Does Your Dentist Ask You to Rinse Prior to Your Appointment?
The main reason your dentist wants you to rinse before treating you is that mouthwash kills the vast majority of germs in your mouth. While most common household mouthwashes haven’t been tested against the specific germs that cause the coronavirus, they have proven to be quite effective against the germs that result in bad breath, plaque, and gum disease. Another reason is to avoid contamination of dental aerosols. When certain dental instruments are used, it creates air particles made of saliva and other particles in your mouth, which include any germs you’re carrying in your mouth. These aerosols can float in the air for several minutes or even hours, possibly infecting the dental team or even subsequent patients. Rinsing with mouthwash will most likely kill these germs, preventing potentially serious infection.How Else Is Your Dentist Keeping You Safe from COVID-19?
Asking you to rinse before your appointment is far from the only safety precaution your dentist is taking during these uncertain times. Here are some of the other measures your dentist is implementing in their practice to keep their patients infection-free:- Performing daily health checks of each team member every morning
- Not offering physical office tours anymore
- Changing into and out of work clothes at the office instead of at home
- Having patients wait in their cars instead of the waiting room
- Pre-screening every patient’s health upon arrival
- Offering some consultations and follow-up appointments virtually
- Asking patients to sanitize their hands before their appointment begins
- Thoroughly cleaning the office between patients
- Deep cleaning the office every evening
- Wearing additional PPE like face shields and shoe coverings
- Using advanced chairside suction techniques to minimize aerosol contamination
- Installing hard plastic barriers strategically throughout the office to help block the movement of airborne particles
