Maintaining and looking after your oral hygiene may not be at the top of your list while we are in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it needs to be a priority for everyone unable to visit their regular dentist. The health of your teeth can change quickly if you start neglecting to take proper care of them.
With most dental offices reducing their appointments to emergency-only during the pandemic, it has never been more important to keep on top of your oral care routine at home to prevent tooth decay or other dental issues.
Ways to Keep Your Teeth Healthy
As most people cannot visit their dentist as regularly as they would like, it is essential to keep looking after your teeth and oral health as well as you can at home. Follow these simple steps to make sure that your teeth stay healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic:
- Brush your teeth twice a day
- Floss your teeth once a day
- Switch to an electric toothbrush
- Rinse with a non-alcohol-based mouthwash twice a day
It is also important to maintain a healthy and balanced diet to help keep your mouth as healthy as it can be. If we consume too many starchy foods or drinks, it can lead to higher amounts of acid in our mouths. The excess acid then dissolves into our tooth surface and makes them weaker.
Kick Bad Habits
During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have all found it difficult to limit snacking. You may be tempted to snack or eat due to stress if you are anxious, however, snacking regularly can create fuel for bacteria. Even if you snack on healthy foods such as fruit, excessive eating can increase your risk of tooth decay. To help reduce your risk, you should limit yourself to mealtimes and drink plenty of water.
It is also important to be aware of how hard you are brushing your teeth. If you brush with too much force, you may be causing more harm than doing good. If you brush your teeth with too much force, it can cause your enamel to wear away. Worn-off enamel can then result in weakened teeth that are prone to cavities.