COVID-19 has kept everyone home for a long time. It’s easy to forget what day it is and even easier to slide out of exercise and other healthy habits. It’s important to stay with it, especially when it comes to your teeth. You only get two sets, and once the adult ones are gone, you need things like dentures or dental implants.
Here are some things you need to consider about maintaining oral health while you’re isolating at home. Neglecting it can negatively impact your teeth and gums.
Do I Brush Long Enough?
When it comes to brushing your teeth, two is the magic number. You need to brush twice a day for two minutes each time. You don’t have to use two hands or two toothbrushes, though. Be sure to spend 30 seconds on each of the four parts of your mouth. An electric toothbrush with a fully functional battery is a good option.
Do I Floss Enough?
Here’s the deal – if you floss less than once daily, then you aren’t doing it enough. It’s an important part of your oral health regimen since it gets rid of food that’s stuck between your teeth. If you leave that there, then it can cause tooth decay. If you haven’t done it in a while, even with good tooth brushing habits, don’t be surprised if you see blood when you first start doing it. Stick with it and it will stop.
Did I Use The Right Toothpaste?
If a toothpaste shelf at a store fell on you, you’d be buried in an avalanche of all kinds of things to choose from, each one promising a different thing. What should you use? Well, there are ones that are tailored for things like sensitive teeth and you have that, then you should get it – after making sure the ADA has approved it. Basically, as long as the toothpaste has fluoride in it, you will be fine.
What Kind of Mouthwash Should I Use?
You should be using this every night. Whatever the type that you get, make sure that it has the ADA seal on it. People have started using mouthwashes that work overnight. They have fluoride in it and can strengthen the enamel as well as leave teeth looking a lot cleaner and shinier. But don’t try to game the system by doing more mouthwash over the course of a day right before a dentist appointment. That will just dry out your mouth and it’s something that dentists will notice.
When Should I Replace My Toothbrush?
Toothbrushes are not like other things that should be used until it breaks. You need to change them roughly every three months and even earlier if the bristles have shown signs of wear and tear. If people think that you scrub the grout off the bathroom floor with the brush, then it’s time to change it. There are plenty of inexpensive electric toothbrushes that can be immediate replacements. If you don’t do this, then you get increasingly diminishing returns every time that you brush.
There are also two other things that you should consider while you’re at home. It’s really in your best interest to not smoke. It can impact a lot of things for you and up your risk for lung cancer. Another bad thing about smoking is that it decreases your saliva output and that can lead to bacteria breeding on your now dryer mouth, which can cause tooth decay. Chewing tobacco is not good either, since it can cause oral cancer.
The second thing is to watch what you eat. Sugary products are really bad for your teeth – and even if you eat them in moderation, you need to be brushing your teeth right away after that. Otherwise you run the risk of it eating away at your enamel and causing cavities. Eat foods that have a lot of calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin C. All them are good for your teeth and gums. There’s a lot of foods that have them, ranging from yogurt to fish to broccoli.
It’s an uncertain time for sure and people don’t know when they will be able to regularly go out again and start going to the dentist. That’s why you need keep a solid base of oral health so that when you do go back there, you can have a drama-free visit. Your teeth and your gums will thank you.
Even in the best of times, the staff at Ivory Dental Jacksonville worked tirelessly to help their patients have the best smile possible. They can still help with questions and you can make appointments for when things open up again. Give them a call at 904-998-1555.
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Ivory Dental
11362 San Jose Blvd Suite #7,
Jacksonville, FL 32223
Phone: (904) 998-1555
Website: https://ivorydentaljacksonville.com/