Oral Health Care in Lockdown: 8 Tips for Your Teeth

Lockdown has changed many regular activities, including regular trips to the dentist?s office.

With many dentist offices closed or with reduced hours due to COVID-19, it is more important than ever to care for your oral health at home. Here are 8 tips to help you keep your teeth and gums healthy until you can get back to the dental clinic.

1. Keep up Your Dental Routine
Regular brushing twice a day, before breakfast and before bed, and flossing every day are essential oral care practices. According to Dr. Mark Rhody Dentistry , it is also important that you keep this routine up for the long term and to do it properly.

Brushing your teeth removes food particles and helps clear away plaque caused by harmful bacteria. This bacteria creates acid, that eats away at your tooth enamel, causing cavities and gum inflammation. When you brush, angle your toothbrush so it sweeps your gums and teeth. This action helps prevent gum recession, which is also a cause of tooth sensitivity.

2. Eat Your Greens and Your Beans
Your diet plays a large part in your overall health, and also in your dental health. Fresh vegetables and foods rich in minerals will ensure that your body and your teeth have the minerals they need to strengthen your tooth enamel and fight off infections.

Some foods that can help your oral health include:

? Calcium-rich foods (e.g. broccoli, cheese, beans) to strengthen tooth enamel
? Magnesium-rich foods (e.g. spinach, cashews, almonds, pumpkin seeds) to strengthen tooth enamel
? Zinc-rich foods (e.g. shellfish, tofu, lentils, oatmeal) to fight plaque and tartar buildup

3. Drink Plenty of Water
Keeping well hydrated is good for your entire body, but did you also know it is good for your teeth and gums? Staying hydrated helps your body create more saliva that acts as a defense against harmful bacteria in your mouth and also strengthens tooth enamel. Dry mouth, caused by dehydration can lead to increased gum inflammation, tooth decay and halitosis (bad breath).

4. Avoid Sugary Foods
Your dentist has told you to stay away from sugary foods since you were a kid, and this is because harmful bacteria in your mouth love nothing more than sugar to feast on. These harmful bacteria eat the sugars and create an acid plaque that eats away at your tooth enamel It is best to stay away from sweets, but if you do indulge in the occasional treat, be sure to brush your teeth afterwards.

5. Stop Smoking
Smoking can increase your risk for many conditions, and did you know that it can also put you at a higher risk for gingivitis, tooth decay and other inflammation? Besides the chemicals in tobacco causing damage, smoking can lead to dry mouth, which allows harmful bacteria to thrive in your mouth. To help your oral health, stop smoking now.

6. Use a Fluoride Toothpaste
Fluoride comes with a natural mineral that helps to strengthen tooth enamel and block the tooth decay. It works so well, that many municipalities add fluoride to the public water system so that everyone can benefit from this mineral. To get even more benefit, you need to brush every day with a fluoride toothpaste.

7. Use an Electric Toothbrush
Dentists recommend using an electric toothbrush to get the best clean for your teeth and gums. Electric toothbrushes often have rotating and oscillating heads that can get more of your tooth. Electric toothbrushes also have sensors that prevent you from brushing too hard and harming your enamel.

8. Don?t Forget to Floss
Flossing will get to the parts of your tooth that brushing can reach and help keep your gums healthy. To make the job of flossing easier, you can get air picks that blast out particles between your teeth, or dental floss picks that help get to food particles and bacteria in between your teeth. Don?t be alarmed if you see a bit of blood on your gums, this is a sign that you need to keep flossing more regularly.

Additionally, if you need help looking for a dentist available for online or phone consultations, marketing websites like dentistoa.com will bring them to you. All you need to do is search for one in your vicinity. Do not neglect your oral health while in lockdown. This way, you can keep dental issues at bay.