With COVID-19 across the country, many dental offices have had to close or limit the services they’re offering. This means that regularly scheduled dental checkups and cleanings have had to be postponed or canceled. What does that mean if you had an appointment scheduled? Dr. Angela Wingate of Garner Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, a dentist in Garner, NC, offers some tips.
Get That Appointment Rescheduled
You shouldn’t use this as an excuse to skip a trip to the dentist’s office. It’s still important that you get the deep cleaning and oral checkup your bi-annual dental visit provides. Our office may have reached out to you already to get your appointment rescheduled. If not, call us or use our online scheduling tool to get set up for the future.
Keep Up With Your Home Oral Healthcare Routine
Especially since you aren’t getting your deep cleaning as soon as you should, it’s important to take care of your teeth at home. We know that it can be hard to keep up with normal little things like this when your whole life and routine are upended. You’re adjusting to working from home and making sure your children do online learning. But if you want to avoid issues with tooth decay and gum disease, your oral care routine is important.
You should be brushing and flossing at least twice a day. Set an alarm or reminder on your phone to go off during mornings and evenings. This can alert you and your whole household that it’s time to brush your teeth. It doesn’t hurt to do it more often, either. If it helps you remember, brush and floss after meals throughout the day. That also helps get food particles out from between your teeth quicker.
Take Note of What You’re Consuming
Diet is another important factor in your oral health. During the pandemic, it can be hard to be completely healthy. Isolation is impacting all of us, causing us to reach for comfort foods that aren’t the healthiest. Grocery stores may have limited hours and are having trouble keeping certain things on the shelves due to people stocking up in bulk. However, there are some simple things you can do to help your oral health.
First, try to avoid consuming a large amount of sugar. Sugar is one of the worst things for your teeth. Harmful oral bacteria use it as their main food source, then giving off an acidic byproduct that eats through your tooth enamel. This is what leads to things like tooth decay and the need for dental fillings. The more sugar you consume, the more acid that’s being released.
Also, make sure you drink a lot of water daily. If you drink tap water, it’s most likely fortified with fluoride. This helps strengthen the enamel on your teeth. Even without fluoride, water is still beneficial. It keeps your mouth hydrated and helps rinse away sugars and food particles from your teeth.
Your Dentist in Garner, North Carolina
If you experience a dental emergency, call us immediately. Otherwise, call or schedule an appointment online for the future. We also want to make sure the stress of the pandemic hasn’t impacted your smile!