During the COVID-19 crisis, many dentists’ offices are closed, but you should still focus on oral hygiene. However, you can still keep your teeth clean while stuck at home. Doing so can help you avoid unnecessary trips to the dental office. Keep reading to learn a few tips to help your teeth stay as healthy as possible.
Even though the COVID-19 is a trying time, it is important to control the things that can be controlled. One of those things is oral care. Brushing and flossing the teeth and using mouthwash are a few ways to do this. The main goal is for patients to control plaque and prevent it from hardening to tartar. Plaque can be removed at home, but tartar cannot.
Patients should brush at least twice a day, if not more often. Some dentists recommend that patients turn to electric toothbrushes, which can remove plaque better than manual toothbrushes. Patients should brush the teeth for at least two minutes. Setting a timer can help patients to reach this goal.
The toothbrush should be disinfected often. Soaking it in a mix of hydrogen peroxide and mouthwash is a good idea. This can kill germs on it. It is a good idea to keep all oral care products near commodes covered.
It can also be helpful for patients to use a mouthwash. This can be done twice a day to prevent gum inflammation and plaque buildup. However, it is important to choose one without alcohol in it. An alcohol-based mouthwash can disrupt the beneficial oral microbiome in the patients’ mouth. Patients can use hydroxyapatite toothpaste, which is less likely to kill the good bacteria. However, this toothpaste can still help rebuild the teeth’s enamel.
It can be tempting for patients staying at home to snack on junk food all day. Many patients turn to excessive snacking when facing boredom and stress. However, foods with starch, such as chips and bread, can cause acid near the teeth. This can cause the surface of the teeth to dissolve. Teeth bathed in the acids become softer and weaker. In general, avoiding processed foods is a good idea.
Staying hydrated is a part of good oral hygiene. Drinking water can help wash away bacteria before they start to attach to the teeth. It is a good idea to avoid drinking and smoking. The process of smoking can limit the amount of blood to the gums. This can increase the risk of gum disease. Drinking can cause the cells in the gums and cheeks to dry out.
It may take a little more effort to keep your teeth healthy while you are at home. However, by doing so, you can avoid a trip to the emergency dentist. You can also avoid having to get extensive dental work once you get back to regular appointments. The habits you build now during the COVID-19 crisis are good ones to have no matter what the situation.
Request an appointment here: https://www.stgeorgedentalcare.com or call St. George Dental Care at (435) 628-9099 for an appointment in our St George office.
Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Read our Yelp reviews.
Replacing a full arch of missing or failing teeth is a major decision, and cost is naturally one of the first questions patients ask. All-on-4 dental implants have become a popular solution for full-arch replacement, but the price tag varies more than a lot of marketing suggests.This guide explains what All-on-4 actually involves, what affects…
Finding out you have a cracked tooth is unsettling, and the natural next question is whether it will just heal on its own if you leave it alone. It's a fair question, since plenty of minor injuries in the body do heal without treatment. Teeth, unfortunately, don't work that way.This article explains why enamel can't…
Root canal cost is one of the most searched dental questions out there, and for good reason. It's hard to plan for a procedure when the price seems to range so widely depending on who you ask. The truth is that root canal cost depends on several specific factors, and understanding them makes the number…
Getting a dental implant is a significant step toward restoring your smile, and how you care for it in the weeks that follow plays a big role in how well it heals. The good news is that implant aftercare is fairly straightforward once you know what to expect.This guide walks through the healing timeline, how…
Replacing a full arch of missing or failing teeth is a major decision, and cost…
Finding out you have a cracked tooth is unsettling, and the natural next question is…
Root canal cost is one of the most searched dental questions out there, and for…
Getting a dental implant is a significant step toward restoring your smile, and how you…
Waking up with a sore jaw or a dull headache isn't always about a bad…
"Implants last forever" is a phrase that gets thrown around a lot, and it's not…