Keeping Your Teeth Healthy During The Pandemic
Oral Hygiene Standards During Lockdown
Have you been looking after your teeth during lockdown? As dental surgeries suffer backlogs, you’ll need to maintain high oral hygiene standards at home.
Although dental surgeries have been allowed to reopen in the UK, it is reasonable to expect a delay before you can attend a routine appointment due to the backlog of patients that have built up. Furthermore, health advisers strongly believe in the possibility of a second wave of the coronavirus which could pose even more challenges for dental practices. Whilst we all adapt to the ‘new normal’, it pays for patients to take extra care of their teeth as it may be a while before you can attend a routine check-up again.
Who Can Book An Appointment?
Although dental practices are opening again, most are only able to offer urgent appointments for those who require an emergency procedure. This is due to the reduced number of treatments and staff available. Routine check-ups or hygiene treatments have been largely postponed until dentists are able to accommodate additional staff and patients.
Maintain Oral Hygiene
Lockdown might have been a great excuse to sit around in your pyjamas until lunchtime, but it shouldn’t be an opportunity to cut back on maintaining oral hygiene. Particularly without access to your usual check-ups, you should take the time to brush your teeth twice a day, in the morning and before bed, to ensure that any food particles are removed from the mouth. You should also floss regularly to get between those difficult areas between your teeth, and use mouthwash to neutralise oral bacteria.
Eating A Healthy Diet
If you’ve been inspired to follow Joe Wicks and do HIIT workouts five times a week during lockdown, then the chances are that you’ve also been keeping to a healthy lifestyle to support your fitness. However, many are also guilty of over-indulging during the pandemic. If you find yourself in the latter category, then it’s important to crack down on your sugar intake to prevent tooth decay from setting in. If you’ve been relying on sugary snacks and fizzy drinks for a pick-me-up, ditch these in favour of healthier fixes.
Invisalign Treatment
If you had already started an Invisalign treatment before lockdown began, then you might be concerned about not seeing your dentist regularly to check on your individual realignment plan. An Invisalign braces Essex team explains that patients should get in touch with their dental treatment provider to find out the specific guidance that they’re offering. Some may take video consultations to offer virtual check-ups and answer any queries you may have. Others may request that you wear your alignment trays for a little longer than usual to prolong the period time between each tray. It may be possible to provide patients with new trays, but this is very much down to individual circumstances and treatment plans, so it’s essential that you get in touch with your dental practitioner to receive the most current advice.
Helping Your Children
Parents must also remember to take extra care of their children’s teeth during the pandemic and keep their sugar intake to a minimum too. If you have a baby who has recently broken their first tooth, then it’s time to introduce teeth brushing into their daily routine.
Remember that dental surgeries are still open and able to respond to your queries, so if do require emergency dental treatment then don’t be afraid to get in touch to receive guidance. You can also dial NHS 111 for advice on dental trauma.