Striving to maintain your normal daily routines during difficult times can be quite challenging. While that may be the case, you must still keep on doing them.
The new coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19, has affected us and continues to do so on a global scale. Establishments everywhere have ceased operations. Officials have also cancelled scheduled events and routines, including dental visits, to prevent people from going out and possibly contracting COVID-19.
However, despite these measures, you must remember to take care of yourself and to maintain your personal hygiene habits — including practicing and observing proper dental care. At such a time when your health is your number one defence, knowing how to practice good dental hygiene is more important than ever. Keeping yourself healthy includes caring for your teeth and gums, too.
Why Is It Important to Maintain Good Dental Hygiene?
- Prevention is Better Than Cure
By maintaining good dental hygiene you are not only helping yourself stay healthy in the present; you are also helping yourself in the long run.
In general, if you were to neglect caring for your dental health and brush your teeth inconsistently, it can lead to a variety of dental health problems
Studies show that people with poor dental hygiene are more likely to develop severe oral health problems, such as halitosis, periodontal disease, and dental caries. If you make it a point to regularly practice good dental hygiene, you can prevent these types of oral health problems. After all, the goal of regularly practicing good dental hygiene is to reduce and prevent plaque and tartar that form on your teeth and gums.
- Oral Health and Overall Health are Partners
Your oral health also affects your overall health. This means the effects of poor dental hygiene will not only affect your mouth but also other parts of your body.
Chronic inflammation from gum disease is linked to cardiovascular problems such as heart disease and stroke. This same disease has also been associated with rheumatic arthritis.
Now that you understand the significance of maintaining good hygiene, we can now answer the question:
How Can You Practice Good Dental Hygiene During the Outbreak?
- Brush Your Teeth Regularly and Properly
Whether there is a global pandemic or not, brushing your teeth is a must. You can use either an electric toothbrush or a manual one. There are also three types of toothbrush bristles that you can select: soft, medium, and firm.
You have to make sure to clean every single tooth, so do brush all surfaces of your teeth. This means brushing the outer and inner tooth surfaces and the chewing sides of your teeth.
You should not brush your teeth aggressively. While it is admirable to be enthusiastic over practicing good dental hygiene, your teeth and gums might end up being damaged instead of being cleaned.
Also, do not forget to include your tongue. Plaque-causing bacteria can also accumulate on it; brushing your tongue helps to freshen your breath and minimize bacteria buildup.
Lastly, you must brush your teeth for at least two minutes, twice a day.
- Don’t Forget to Floss Every Day
Apart from brushing your teeth, daily flossing is another habit you need to build. Through flossing, you can get rid of food particles and plaque that your toothbrush is unable to reach.
There are several types of dental floss that you can use:
- Waxed floss
- Unwaxed floss
- Dental tape
- Superfloss
- Floss holder
- Floss threader
- Threader-tip floss
- Power flossers
When you are flossing your teeth, you need to be gentle. You can damage your teeth and gums if you floss too hard. Remember to floss at least once a day to keep the plaque away.
- Use Mouthwash
A mouthwash or a mouth rinse can prevent bad breath and help remove bacteria from your mouth. You need to time yourself when using one. You should gargle and swish the mouthwash in your mouth properly for about 30 seconds before spitting it out.
And while this can get rid of bacteria, this does not mean that you no longer have to brush and floss your teeth. Think of using mouthwash as an additional way to get rid of bacteria.
- Eat Healthy to Be Healthy
Another way you can practice good dental hygiene is by changing your diet. While it can be difficult to do so, avoiding sugar is a must to ensure good oral health.
There are good and bad bacteria living in our mouths. When you eat food that contains sugar, you are giving these bad bacteria a chance to consume said sugar. Once they do, plaque begins to form on your teeth and this can turn into tooth decay if left untreated.
To avoid plaque buildup, it is advisable to lessen or remove sugar from your diet. Your diet should consist of protein and healthy fats. This means having to say goodbye to your favourite sugary snacks and saying hello to more vegetables and lean meat.
- Be Considerate
Whether you need to restock on dental products or healthy food, you need to remember to be considerate of others. Do not purchase dental products and food in bulk. Take only as much as you need for the next few weeks in self-isolation. Avoid panic-buying and hoarding and set an example for other buyers. You are not the only person who needs these. Give others a chance to practice good dental hygiene, as well.
If you are feeling sick avoid going out to buy these products yourself. Have someone you trust, perhaps a family member or a neighbour, to do the shopping for you and leave it on your doorstep. Take advantage of grocery delivery services when possible.
With so many COVID-19 cases around the world, avoiding crowded places and staying home is the best way to nip the pandemic in the bud. We must all stay alert, but not anxious. Remember to continue practicing good dental hygiene, along with social distancing and taking care of yourself.
If you have any questions regarding your oral health, there is no need to worry. We at Springdale Dental Centre are here for you.
While our services are temporarily suspended due to COVID-19 and our office is closed, we can still provide you with information about your dental concerns through email. Please do not hesitate to call us at (905) 458-1212 or email us at info@springdaledental.com.
