If you feel a sudden pain in your teeth or gums in this pandemic time, it is possible that you will not be able to make any dentistry appointments in your town. Most of the dentists are on leave and not available for routine procedures and examinations. As they say, precaution is better than cure, you need to ensure that you take care of your teeth by making healthy habits. Not just for you, but for your children too as is also not available for some time. Some of you might be enjoying superlative dental health and some might have dental issues. This post is for everyone who wants to stay away from dental health issues in this Covid-19 pandemic. Stay tuned!
Why dental health is so important?
Admit it, most of the time, we ignore our dental issues and wish that the symptoms will go away without any treatments. Sudden pain in teeth or gums, cavity issues, or yellowish teeth are considered minor issues that don’t require any additional treatment. However, it is not something to live with. Untreated dental issues might invite some other health conditions and before it is too late, consulting a dentist would work in your favour. Making an appointment with a Narrabeen dentist who has an affiliated degree in dentistry and has years of experience would not cost you much, but it will surely get you the best treatment for your dental issues.
However, in the times of the Covid-19 pandemic, where no dentists are available nearby your area, you need to take care of your dental hygiene by yourself. So what can we all do to keep dental issues away? Let’s start!
- Brush your teeth twice a day
The first and foremost advice that you need to follow is to brush your teeth twice a day. Most dentists recommend it and you should make a habit of it. Oral care is a must for a healthy life and brushing two times a day will serve the purpose of plaque control. It also prevents tooth decay and removes all the food particles trapped in between teeth.
In addition to that, dentists also recommend rinsing with non-alcoholic mouthwash twice a day to reduce plaque build-up which might lead to gum inflammation.
Using antibacterial mouthwash and toothpaste is not recommended by the doctors, especially in this time as it might disrupt the health of the oral microbiome, which is a key component of the . The best practice is to use a hydroxyapatite toothpaste which is less bactericidal and also builds tooth enamel.
- What you eat determines the quality of your oral hygiene
When we are in a quarantine period, we often feel bored and stressed due to personal or professional reasons. The outcome is random munching of everything you find in your kitchen. Excessive snacking should be avoided to maintain your oral hygiene. Most of the packaged foods are rich in starch and make the mouth more acidic which makes the teeth weaker and softer.
In addition to that, dentists also recommend avoiding non-fibre carbohydrates which act exactly like sugar and end up in plaque build-up in teeth.
When you are stressed, you incline to eat more and this is not recommended. Go out for a short walk or watch a film or read a book to de-stress yourself. Moderate exercising also can help you to de-stress.
- Excessive smoking and drinking
Yes, if you have noticed, you are smoking and drinking more as you are free at home and have nothing to do in this pandemic time. When you smoke excessively, it affects your gum health as it increases the risk for gum infections. Furthermore, excessive alcohol consumption also dries out the cells in cheeks and gums which might risk your oral health.
Dentists also recommend not to eat hard foods to break such as peanut brittle, sticky candies and popcorn. Biting fingernails due to stress might break or chip the teeth.
- Keep your toothbrush clean
If you are living in an area where the number of Covid-19 positive cases is increasing, you need to take some extra precautions to safeguard your oral health. Toothbrushes are very pro to virus transmissions and you need to take good care of your toothbrush to keep the infection away.
Studies proved that faecal matter contains Coronavirus and when you flush, you need to ensure that the lid is closed and your toothbrush, tongue cleaner and other items are covered. Also, what you can do is to soak them in a mouthwash and hydrogen peroxide mixture can also work for you.
Various studies point that your gum health is directly related to your body’s immune response. In these hard times when you need a strong and intact immune system, taking care of your oral hygiene is a must.
- Call the dentist only in emergency
If you experience sudden, unbearable pain in your gums or teeth and your children complain about dental issues, you can ask for emergency dental services by hiring a . Even in this pandemic, dentists are available for emergency services and you can call them any time you want to get treated.