Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, dental offices have had to limit their services to emergency dentistry only. But what does that mean for everyone that had their regular dental checkup and cleaning scheduled during this time? Dr. Melissa Elliott of Harford County Dentistry, a dentist in Fallston, MD, discusses things to keep in mind.
Get That Appointment Rescheduled
Just because it was missed doesn’t mean that you should just let months and months go by until your next one. Getting your six-month cleaning and checkup is an important part of your oral health, even if it’s delayed by a few weeks. You’ll especially want your teeth checked after the stress of this crisis. We may have reached out to you already to reschedule. If not, call us or use our online scheduling tool!
Focus on Your Oral Health at Home
Especially since you’re missing a deep cleaning that’s due, it’s important to make sure you’re keeping up with an oral healthcare routine at home. It can be hard to make sure you’re brushing and flossing enough when your entire routine has been upended. You’re getting used to working from home or helping children with newly online classes. But your oral health isn’t something you can let fall by the wayside unless you want tooth decay or gum disease.
Brushing too much is never a problem, so if it helps you remember, brush and floss after every meal. This is also beneficial because it eliminates any food particles stuck in your teeth quickly, so bacteria have less time to feed on them. You can also set an alarm or reminder on your phone for mornings and evenings to make sure you’re brushing at least twice a day. This can help remind your whole household, too!
Try to Eat and Drink for a Healthy Mouth
Eating a healthy, balanced diet can be difficult during this time. Moods are impacted by the pandemic, and we tend to want comfort foods that aren’t the healthiest. Grocery stores have limited hours and precautions and may have trouble keeping things on the shelves because people are stocking up. However, there are some simple things you can do to keep your mouth healthy.
First, try to avoid both foods and beverages that are high in sugar. Sugar is one of the worst things for your teeth. Harmful oral bacteria use it as one of their main food sources. Then, they give off an acidic byproduct that can wear away your tooth enamel. This is what leads to tooth decay and problems with cavities.
Also, make sure that water is the primary thing you’re drinking throughout the day. If you’re drinking water from the tap, there’s a good chance it’s fortified with fluoride. Fluoride helps strengthen your enamel. Water also helps keep your mouth hydrated. This is important for washing away sugars and food particles that are lingering around your teeth.
Your Dentist in Fallston, Maryland
We look forward to being able to help you with your smile when this pandemic is over. Call us or schedule an appointment online for the future. We hope we’ll get to see your smile in our office soon!