Visiting the dental practice Expand To help stop the spread of coronavirus, we are advising against all non-urgent dental treatment. This includes: Dental check-ups. Preventive treatments such as scale and polish and fluoride varnishes. Examinations and x-rays. Appointments for braces. Cosmetic dental treatment of any kind e.g. tooth whitening. Routine denture treatment. Treatments on teeth that are not painful e.g. fillings and extractions. It is likely that your dental practice will contact you to postpone these appointments. If you do not hear from your dental practice, we recommend that you contact them to cancel your appointment and rearrange it for a later date. Some dental practices have decided to close during this time, while others are running reduced services. If you have been affected by this, your dental practice should have been in contact with you. Whenever possible, stay at home and help stop the spread of coronavirus. This includes people of all ages – even if you do not have any symptoms or other health conditions. Non-necessary dental treatment is not a reason for you to leave the home. Covid main from The BDA on Vimeo. More information: Dental Helpline NHS - Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Urgent dental care Expand If you are in pain, bleeding, swelling, or have had an accident and need urgent dental care, please contact your dental practice. Please do not visit your dental practice without calling them first. If you are not registered with a dental practice, you can find a list of the ones closest to you on the NHS website. Before agreeing to see you, dental practices might need to speak with you on the telephone. This is to check whether you are in good health and do not have any symptoms relating to the coronavirus. More information: Dental Helpline NHS - Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Dental treatment in hospitals and A&E Expand To support NHS services and protect vital resources, it is important that you do not visit hospitals or A&E departments with dental problems. If you need urgent or emergency dental treatment, contact your dental practice and they will be able to refer you. More information: Dental Helpline NHS - Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Dental care for vulnerable people and those with symptoms Expand If you need urgent dental care and are self-isolating because you have symptoms relating to coronavirus, or are a vulnerable person at higher risk, call NHS 111. NHS 111 will be able to assess your needs and refer you to a special team who will be able to treat you. More information: Dental Helpline NHS - Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Buying oral health products Expand There is no shortage of oral health products like toothbrushes, toothpaste and mouthwash. Because of this, there is no need to stockpile them. It is important to only buy what you need, when you need it. Supermarkets remain open for essential food shopping and we advise that you buy any oral health products you need during this time. Please remember however, to keep to social distancing rules and try to keep two metres away from other shoppers. When possible, instead of visiting supermarkets, we recommend that you buy oral health products online and have them delivered to your home. More information: Dental Helpline NHS - Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Top tips for good oral health Expand To help prevent dental problems from happening during coronavirus, here are some top tips for great oral health. Brush your teeth for two minutes, twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste. The best time to brush is last thing at night, before you go to bed. Cut down on how much sugar you have and how often you have it. Keep sugar consumption to mealtimes. This will reduce the time your teeth are under attack. Use interdental brushes or floss to clean in between the teeth. Use mouthwash daily to remove bad bacteria and keep fresh breath. Sugar-free chewing gum can help produce saliva and neutralise the plaque acids in your mouth. For more advice, you can also read our latest blog post: COVID-19: our guide to looking after yourselves and others through better oral hygiene More information: Dental Helpline NHS - Coronavirus (COVID-19)
More information and advice Expand Our Dental Helpline is here to answer any questions you have about your oral health. If you need help, support or reassurance about the health of your mouth, we’re here to help. For information about the coronavirus (COVID-19), please visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/. If you are a dental professional, the British Dental Association’s website has ongoing advice and updates about treating patients during this time.