With the COVID-19 pandemic, many dental offices have had to close to all services but emergencies. This means that normal bi-annual checkups and cleanings have been canceled or postponed. What does this mean if you had an appointment during this period? Dr. Caleb A. Robinson, a dentist in New Philadelphia, OH, offers some tips.
Get Your Appointment Rescheduled
This isn’t an excuse to put off your dental cleaning and exam. It’s still crucial that you get these done to maintain optimal oral health. Our office may have already reached out to you about getting your appointment moved. If not, call us or use our online scheduling tool to get something set for the future. You want to get seen as close as you can to your original date.
Keep Up an Oral Healthcare Routine at Home
Especially since you’re missing a schedule deep cleaning, you want to make sure you’re doing everything you can at home. We know it can be hard to remember the little things when your entire routine is upended. You’re adjusting to working at home or helping children stay occupied throughout isolation. But it’s important to make sure you’re taking care of your oral health if you don’t want gum disease or tooth decay problems.
Make sure you brush and floss at least twice a day. Set an alarm or reminder on your phone for mornings and evenings to make sure you’re getting at least those two brushings in. This can remind your whole household as well. There’s no harm in brushing more often, so you can also brush after every meal if that helps you remember. That also helps get food particles out from between your teeth as soon as possible.
Take Note of Your Diet
It can be hard to eat completely healthy during isolation. All of us are struggling a little and leaning towards comfort foods. Grocery stores have limited hours and are having trouble keeping the shelves fully stocked as people are buying in bulk to make fewer trips. However, there are some simple things you can do to help your oral health with what you consume.
First, try to keep your sugar intake down. Sugar is one of the worst enemies of your oral health. Harmful oral bacteria use it as their main food source. The byproduct they give off is acidic and eats through the enamel on your teeth. The more sugar you’re taking in, the more food they get and the more acidic byproduct they give off. This is what causes tooth decay and dental cavities.
Also, drink water as your main beverage throughout the day. If you’re drinking tap water, it’s most likely fortified with fluoride. Fluoride helps strengthen the enamel on your teeth. Even if you don’t have fluoride in your water, it’s still the best drink for your mouth. It keeps your mouth hydrated, which is essential for rinsing sugar and food particles away from your teeth.
Your Dentist in New Philadelphia, Ohio
With the stress of the pandemic, you also want to make sure you get the impact of stress on your smile checked out. Call us or schedule an appointment online for the future. We hope to see you in our office soon!