Due to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, many dentists in America have stopped seeing patients for routine visits, and are only providing emergency dental care. And that has many people wondering how they can ensure they take proper care of their smiles, even when they can’t see a dentist for their regular appointments.
So in this guide from Golden Gate Dental, we’ll give you a few recommendations and tips on proper oral hygiene, avoiding common dental emergencies, and more. Read on, and learn how to take care of your teeth, even when you can’t see your dentist.
Make Sure You Brush At Least Twice A Day For Two Minutes
When you can’t see your dentist, proper oral hygiene becomes even more important. Make sure you brush at least twice a day for two minutes. If you brush twice per day, it’s best to brush once at night before bed, and once in the morning when you wake up.
If you want, you can even start brushing 3 times per day. Brush after breakfast, after lunch, and after your last meal or snack before you go to bed. Doing so will help ensure your gums and teeth stay healthy.
Learn How To Floss Properly, And Floss Once Every Day
Flossing every day will help prevent the buildup of plaque, bacteria, and tartar between your gums. If you don’t know how to floss or don’t do it regularly, now is a great time to learn.
Take a look at this video for an overview of the basics, and make sure you floss at least once per day. Timing doesn’t matter. You can floss whenever you want, and benefit from a healthier mouth.
Don’t Bite Or Chew Extremely Hard Foods With Your Front Teeth
This applies to everyone, but is especially important for people who have cosmetic dental work like veneers or bonding on their front teeth. Biting extremely hard and crunchy foods like almonds or ice with your front teeth could chip or damage them.
You should always chew hard foods with your rear molars, which have a larger surface area and are strong enough to handle the pressure of chewing them.
Avoid Gummy Foods That May Damage Your Dental Work
If you have multiple fillings or crowns, you should not eat extremely sticky and gummy foods like taffy, gummy worms/bears, caramel, toffee, and candied or dried fruits. Over time, eating these foods can pull out your crown or filling, and damage your dental work.
Stop Chewing On Non-Food Objects & Don’t Use Your Teeth As Tools
Don’t chew on your fingernails, pens, pencils, or any other non-food object. You shouldn’t use your teeth to help you do things like open packaging or tear tape, either. Your teeth are intended to chew food, and that’s all they should be used for. If you regularly chew non-food objects or use your teeth as tools, you could chip, crack, or damage them.
Keep Your Mouth Healthy & Avoid Common Dental Emergencies With This Guide!
If you follow the tips in this guide, you’ll be able to keep your mouth healthy and free of gum disease and tooth decay, even if you can’t see your dentist. You’ll also avoid some common dental emergencies, such as pulled-out dental work and chipped or cracked teeth.
So follow these tips, and take care of yourself. And, when it’s possible to do so again, make sure you visit a dentist in San Francisco, such as Dr. Inessa Sosis, to ensure that your smile is healthy and strong.