How to Maintain Your Oral Health During Lockdown

Spending more time at home is part and parcel of lockdown. Often, this can lead to the adoption of a few bad habits that could have a negative impact on your oral health. From cutting down your sugar consumption to scheduling regular appointments with your dentist regardless, here are just a few guidelines for effectively maintaining healthy teeth and gums throughout these uncertain times.

Keep up those good habits

Above all else, you will definitely want to work hard to keep your good dental habits going for maximum oral health.

• Don’t get slack about brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing every night before bed.
• Drink plenty of water to optimize saliva production to aid in washing away harmful bacteria and food particles that may be sitting on your teeth.
• Rinse your mouth out with water or mouthwash after every snack or meal.
• Chew sugar-free gum in between meals as like drinking lots of water; this helps to ward off the dry mouth and remove food build-up.

Choose your snacks wisely

Most snacks are heavily processed and contain high amounts of salt, sugar, and starch – none of which is going to do your oral health any favors. The bacteria that live inside your mouth feed off of sugar and starch and produce acids that subsequently cause damage to your tooth enamel. Eventually, this leads to cavities and tooth decay and, if left unchecked, you could also be at risk of developing a painful infection known as an abscess.

So, steer clear of packaged foods and snack on fresh, whole foods instead. Think carrot and celery sticks dipped in homemade hummus, a handful of unsalted nuts, and fresh fruit. Just be sure to avoid too much fruit juice as most fruit contains natural sugars that can also result in tooth decay over time.

Visit your dentist every six months

You might be hesitant to visit your doctor or dentist during these times when the risk of coming into contact with COVID-19 is higher when leaving your home. However, putting health concerns and the general wellbeing of your teeth and gums on the backburner just isn’t worth it. The majority of doctors and dentists have gone over and above to ensure that strict health and safety protocols are in place to protect patients during lockdown and beyond. So, grab your mask and head to your dentist appointment with confidence.  Don’t neglect your dental health and book an appointment now to remove ugly cavities with the Dentist in avon lake.

If you are young and healthy, you can probably get away with a visit to the dentist once a year. However, if you are over the age of 30 or if you have been diagnosed with any long-term dental disease, it is vital that you pop in for a check-up every six months.

While there is a lot going on around you and everyone is suddenly faced with a number of extra concerns, it is important not to let your oral health become anything less than a top priority during this time. Take action to maintain your smile in any and every way that you can!