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Poor oral care can easily lead to major issues, so even if you’re only commuting from your bed to your coach, make sure you make a stop at the bathroom to take care of your teeth.
You might think it’s ok to skip your routine because you’re staying home anyways, but keep in mind that the consequences in the long term might be very serious.
Mother - General Dentist - Blogger
How many shows have you binge watched in the last week? What time did you go to bed last night? What did you eat for breakfast this morning? What do you do in your free time? How about your oral care? How many times a day do you brush your teeth? How about flossing? And mouth wash?
I bet your answers are completely different today than a month ago. It’s ok. Don’t feel bad. It’s happened to most of us, and we’re all in this together.
Isolation has changed routines for most of us. It’s kind of like the entire world went on collective vacations. We don’t sleep as usual. We don’t eat as usual. We don’t rest as usual. Our life is just not the same as it used to be, and all this makes it hard to keep up with our personal hygiene.
That’s why today, I want to talk about how to keep good dental care while dealing with the Coronavirus.
Like most health professionals, I’m still seeing my patients, but some of my friends tell me they’re now showering at noon, at dinner time, or even not showering at all. And although proper hygiene is important, as long as you’re staying home, skipping a bath once in a while is not a big deal.
Now, that DOESN’T apply to dental care. Keep in mind dentists are only seeing emergencies right now, so you might have to wait a few months until your next dental visit.
Poor oral care can easily lead to major issues, so even if you’re only commuting from your bed to your couch, make sure you make a stop at the bathroom to take care of teeth.
If you do need to go see your dentist, make sure to read our article about Visiting Your Dentists During the Coronavirus Outbreak.
Emergencies can come at any time and it’s important to stay covered. If you want to explore our Dental Plan options, click here.
This is the most essential part of a dental care routine. Coronavirus or not, you should be doing this on daily basis. Brushing not only prevents cavities, bad breath, tartar buildup, and many other issues. It is also the easiest and most effective way to prevent major dental diseases.
Most people tend to skip flossing, but it is an important part of good oral hygiene. Long story short, there’s a bunch of stuff (bad stuff) that builds up on teeth and along the gum line.
This bad stuff is very hard to reach with your toothbrush, and if you don’t remove it in time, the only way to get rid of it would be with a professional cleaning. And as you already know, dentists are only seeing emergencies.
If the bad stuff is in your mouth long enough, it causes tooth decay, gum diseases, and even tooth loss.
I’ve had patients that tell me that they use mouthwash if for whatever reason they can’t brush. So I want to begin by saying mouthwash DOES NOT replace toothpaste or brushing, it’s just a supplement to a good dental care routine.
Although using mouthwash in case you can’t brush is better than not brushing at all, you should be using mouthwash everyday; simply because it’s designed to clean the areas that your brush and floss can’t reach.
Mouthwash helps prevent problems like gingivitis as it kills bacteria that infects the dental sockets and gums. Other benefits include strengthening teeth enamel, demineralizing your teeth, and temporarily killing the bacteria that causes bad breath.
One of the hardest things while in isolation is keeping good habits. I want to give you a few tips to help you with your oral hygiene while in isolation.
Staying home 24/7 might be stressful, however you can definitely find healthier ways to release that stress. Smoking and drinking can cause major dental issues like oral cancer.
If you’re an active person try doing yoga, dancing, working out at home, or taking a walk (just don’t forget wearing a mask and social distancing). If you’re not so active; try listening to music, reading, writing, cooking, playing cardboard games, or taking a bath.
Even with good oral care, a poor diet can cause issues in your mouth. Having so much time on our hands can easily lead to anxiety and an uncontrollable impulse to eat.
Again, try to find activities that keep your mind occupied and avoid snacks, desserts, candies, and sugared beverages.
I know, I know! I just told you like 100 times that dentists are only seeing patients with emergencies. But even if you saw your dentist in the months before the pandemic, as a professional, I strongly recommend that you go again right after this whole thing is over just so you can make sure that everything is OK.
Before you schedule your visit, you might need a dental plan that gives you coverage on preventive services. If you want to learn more about our Preventive PPO Plan, click here.
Drinking water is essential for a healthy life, and it is very important to your dental care as well; especially in these days in which we tend to eat more and exercise less.
Water is good for your teeth because it helps prevent cavities and staining, fights bad breath, and it’s a great source of fluoride.
Dental care also means don’t use your teeth for things that they’re not built for. Boredom and anxiety might make you wanna chew things like your cellphone, remote, pens, etc.
Other people might use their teeth to remove bottle caps, or rip open packaging. This weakens your teeth and puts them at risk of chipping, breaking, or even falling out.
You might have to take medicine or receive medical treatments that give you dry mouth. If that’s the case, ask your doctor about alternatives. If possible, chew sugarless gum, and drink plenty of water.
You might not realize how important it is to have good oral care. You might think it’s ok to skip your routine because you’re staying home anyways, but keep in mind that the consequences in the long term might be very serious.
So do your best to take care of yourself and give the best example to your kids, family and friends. We’re all in this together.
Stay safe, stay home, and keep a healthy smile!
If you’re struggling to find an affordable dental plan, SHD offers great options for individuals, families and seniors. Call now to get a free Quote!
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Smart Health Dental is a national dental plan that is dedicated to providing you with the best service in the industry. We are committed to developing quality dental products that provide consumers with the best value and choices in the insurance industry.
The Smart Health Dental PPO insurance policy is underwritten by Renaissance Life & Health Insurance Company of America, Indianapolis, IN, and in New York by Renaissance Life & Health Insurance Company of New York, Binghamton, NY. Products and services referred to may not be available in all states and jurisdictions. There is no ownership affiliation between Renaissance and Smart Health Dental. For complete coverage details, please refer to the certificate of insurance.
Membership in Communicating for America, Inc. (CA) is required to enroll for coverage under the Smart Health Dental PPO insurance policy offered. CA membership provides non-insurance discounts like prescription drug discounts and a vision discount program. CA will communicate member information to you via email or by directing you to their website. Should an individual decide to enroll in the dental insurance policy, he or she will be prompted during the enrollment process to confirm acceptance of membership in CA.
*Certain restrictions apply; please call or email us for full details.
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DMPO DISCLOSURE:
This plan is a discount plan NOT a health insurance policy.
This plan provides discounts at certain health care providers for medical services.
This plan does not make payments directly to the providers of medical services.
The plan member is obligated to pay for all health care services but will receive a discount from those health care providers who have contracted with the discount medical plan organization.
The DMPO does make available an up-to-date list of all program providers which includes their name, city & state, and medical specialty prior to purchase, upon request.
That the range of discounts for medical services provided under the plan will vary depending on the type of provider and the medical services received.
The corporate name and the location of the licensed discount medical plan organization is: Access One Consumer Health, Inc. 84 Villa Road, Greenville, SC 29615; 1-800-896-1962; www.accessonedmpo.com
This plan is not available in AK, AR, MT, RI, UT, VT or WA.
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