Right now, the entire world is experiencing something unusual. The coronavirus social isolation period is forcing people to stay in their homes and skip their usual routines. But if you have an appointment with a dentist already planned, should you go to it?

Here's a quick rundown of when you should and shouldn't go to the dentist during this time.

If You're Sick

If you think you're sick, even if it's probably a minor cold, you should stay home. It's highly advised right now that anyone who thinks that they're sick stay isolated in order to keep others from catching the illness. Going to the dentist when you're not feeling well is a pretty unpleasant experience anyway, as you may have trouble breathing through your nose or have a regular cough that can make getting through a dental appointment difficult. So in this instance, call your dentist and delay your appointment by a week or so until you feel better.

If Your Teeth or Gums Hurt

If you're in any kind of pain, you should see a dentist now and not put it off. This is because whatever is going wrong in your mouth is likely to only get worse between now and whenever the coronavirus lockdown ends. Since the end is uncertain, you could be waiting weeks or even months before you can get help. If you have a cavity or gum disease, these conditions can worsen to the point where you lose a tooth without dental care. Needless to say, you should avoid that at all costs, so get to a dentist ASAP.

If You're Overdue for a Cleaning

Dental cleanings are scheduled fairly regularly, so you can certainly come to the dentist's office if you're due for a cleaning. But you should especially head in if you have an appointment for one already and know that you're long overdue for a cleaning and examination.

Dental cleanings and examinations often uncover problems that you didn't even know that you had, and dentists are able to treat them while they're at an early stage. This prevents the need for serious procedures like teeth drilling and root canals. So don't put off seeing the dentist if you know you're long overdue for an appointment.

If you have questions about your safety or even the dentist's safety before heading into the office, don't hesitate to give them a call. They'll be able to tell you everything they're doing to keep their patients and staff safe.