In response to the current pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention strongly recommends practicing social distancing and self-quarantines to slow the spread of COVID-19. To encourage this, Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn has called for the closure of all non-essential businesses, including beauty parlors, restaurants, and dental offices. This means that routine dental checkups and other preventive services need to be postponed until these strange times have passed. Here are six easy but practical tips from your Medford dentist to keep your smile healthy during quarantine.
1.) Practice A Regular Dental Routine
Your daily schedule probably looks very different than it did at the beginning of the year. Experts highly recommend keeping up a regular routine despite all these changes. Continuing to care for your teeth every morning and night is a great way to take care of your smile and help keep your mind at ease.
2.) Keep Flossing Regularly
If life in quarantine is changing when you go to sleep and wake up in the morning, it may be tempting to start slacking off on your dental routine. However, thoroughly cleaning your smile with the help of dental floss is essential to preventing gum disease and tooth loss.
3.) Don’t Forget to Clean Your Tongue
Another habit that may be easy to forget or forgo in quarantine is cleaning your tongue daily. Food particles, plaque, and bacteria all accumulate there and may lead to bad breath or oral infections.
4.) Use Products with Fluoride
While rationing your supplies is a key part of social distancing, don’t stop using dental products that contain fluoride. This important mineral fights off decay and strengthens your teeth. Instead, remind your family and yourself to use a pea-sized drop of toothpaste.
5.) Watch Your Sugar Intake
Stress-eating and mindlessly snacking are bad habits that can drastically increase your risk of cavities. Remember, many dental offices are only taking emergency appointments currently, so it’s up to you to prevent tooth decay before it causes you damage or discomfort.
6.) Teach Your Children About Oral Health
All this extra time spent at home with your family presents the perfect opportunity to teach your children about the importance of oral hygiene. You can show them how to floss properly as well as practical tips for taking care of their smile. You can even turn toothbrushing into family time by brushing your teeth with them.
Now more than ever, it’s important that we do everything we can to take care of our oral health. Use these six simple but effective tips to maintain great dental health during quarantine as well as after it.
About the Author
At Giamberardino Dental Care in Medford, MA, the health of you and your loved ones has always been and will continue to be our top priority. As such, we ask that our patients limit their travelling as much as possible and practice social distancing. If you have a dental emergency, please contact us and we will assist you over the phone. Once the quarantine advisories have been lifted, we will be happy to welcome you and your family in for a dental checkup. You can contact us via our website or at (781) 396-3800.