Keeping Good Dental Care While Dealing With the Coronavirus

dental care

Keep up With your Dental Care!

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. 

Picture of Dr. Debbie Luis

Dr. Debbie Luis

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.

Dental Care Basics

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.

Brush Your Teeth Twice a Day

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.

Floss Once a Day, Every Day

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.

Complete your Oral Care Routine with Mouthwash

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.

Tips to Keep Good Dental Care

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.

Avoid Smoking and Drinking Alcohol

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.

Keep a Healthy Diet

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.

Visit Your Dentist Periodically

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.

Drink Lots of Water

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. 

Don't use your teeth for anything but Chewing Food

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.

About Your Medications

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.

Conclusion

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 individualsfamilies and seniors. Call now to get a free Quote!

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