9th April 2020
Tips for Staying Dentally Healthy During Lockdown
Currently, the UK is facing unprecedented circumstances. Life as we have known it has been starkly altered. Losing track of things is all too easy in such a stressful environment. When was the last time you washed your hair? Or wore a pair of jeans? The fact of the matter is, however, that even in the current climate we must try to carry on as normally as possible where we can do. Especially when it comes to the upkeep of our everyday well being.
Staying healthy during this uncertain period is important, but this shouldn’t be restricted to your physical health. With dental practices closed nationwide, maintaining your oral health is now more important than ever. As a poor routine could lead to issues that you may have to wait weeks to resolve with a dental appointment. During this period, prevention is your best option.
So, with that in mind, here are some of the best ways to keep up your oral hygiene during these tough times:
Our Tips for Lockdown Oral Hygiene
The team at Dental Solutions—safely isolated in their own homes—have kindly taken the time to outline some of their oral hygiene top tips.
- Using the time to ensure that you brush your teeth for 2 minutes correctly twice a day, reaching all of those difficult places- there are lots of videos on-line on the best techniques for brushing. For our patients under orthodontic treatment, if you have a fixed appliance do ensure you’re brushing the brackets and wires as well as your teeth. If it’s a removable system such as Invisalign, always brush after eating and put the aligners straight back in.
- If you have been recommended tepes/ floss by our hygienists but haven’t used them as much as you’d like, now’s the time to dig them out of your bathroom cabinet and promote them to a space next to your toothbrush. Developing a daily habit they say usually takes 3 weeks to form – your smile will love you more on the other side of lockdown!
- Try to avoid snacking between meals. But if that’s not possible, try to incorporate smile friendly snacks such as fresh fruit and vegetable sticks. Sugar free gum is also a good alternative to snacking and can help to maintain a good ph balance in your mouth.
- Avoid smoothies, fruit juice and fizzy drinks, or if that’s not possible limit to one a day. Try using a straw to minimise tooth enamel erosion. Drink lots of water during and between meals – not just great for staying hydrated but helps to remove any food debris after meals.
- Finally, reducing your intake of alcohol and quitting smoking is a vital factor in reducing your oral cancer risk and improving your oral health. Easier said than done at the moment you may say, but using the enforced lockdown to change your lifestyle for the better could be a positive outcome from the virus.
Plan Your Next Appointment
At the moment, appointments are not being taken as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. You can read more about our lockdown advice on our dedicated page here. However, once the lockdown is over and social restrictions are lifted it’s important to address any dental health concerns you may have developed during this time.
However, we are happy to take enquiries and questions in regards to future appointments. Please call our practice on 01925 756565 and leave a message, fill out the contact form or email us at dental-[email protected].
