These days, most people are stuck at home thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. When you’re working from home, you generally have more time on your hands, and with this time, many people are evaluating their health habits. You should take some time to think about your oral health, too. To help out, a dentist in Canton has given this list of tips for keeping your smile healthy while you’re social distancing at home.
Don’t Go to Bed Without Brushing Your Teeth
Many people don’t hesitate to clean their teeth in the morning, but forget to do so at night. Neglecting to brush before bed allows bacteria to fester and build up in your mouth while you sleep. Not only does this result in serious morning breath, but it can increase the chances that you’ll develop cavities.
Brush Your Tongue Too
When cleaning your mouth, don’t forget about your tongue. Bacteria can accumulate on it and get deposited back on your teeth and gums. This can result in bad breath as well as a higher risk of infection.
Use a Fluoride Toothpaste
The next time you make a trip to the store or order groceries online, make sure your toothpaste contains fluoride. This is a naturally occurring mineral that has been proven to strengthen your teeth and lower your odds of developing cavities.
Don’t Forget to Floss
Brushing only cleans about 60% of the surface of your teeth, so flossing can take care of the rest. Set a reminder on your phone every night to floss. Alternatively, you could place your floss on your pillow every day so that you can’t go to bed without being reminded to clean between your teeth.
Rinse with Mouthwash
Your teeth and gums only make up a fairly small portion of your mouth. Clean the rest of it by swishing with antibacterial mouthwash. Just make sure it contains no alcohol, since alcohol dries out your mouth and actually increases your risk for infections.
Drink Plenty of Water
Water keeps your gums hydrated and rinses excess food particles and bacteria out of your mouth. It also stimulates the production of saliva, which neutralizes acid attacks from bacteria.
Eat Fresh Produce
Chewing fresh fruits and raw vegetables scrubs your teeth clean as you eat them. They also help stimulate saliva creation. In addition, they’re much healthier than all the added sugars in heavily processed foods. Even if you can only get a few fruits and veggies on your grocery store run, every little bit helps to strengthen your teeth.
All of these habits are easy to implement into your everyday life. Keep them in mind so your teeth can stay healthy until your dentist reopens, and you can attend a cleaning again.
About the Author
Dr. J. D. Robison has completed the core curriculum at the prestigious Dawson Center for Advanced Dental Studies. In addition, he has trained at the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies. He believes wholeheartedly in the power of preventive dental care, especially during a pandemic, to keep your oral health in excellent shape. To learn more tips for keeping your teeth healthy during quarantine, visit Dr. Robison’s website.