With the COVID-19 pandemic traveling across the country, many dental practices have had to close their doors for everything but emergencies. So what are you supposed to do if you missed your bi-annual cleaning and checkup because of the pandemic? Dr. Cappy Sinclair of Coastal Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry, your dentist in Virginia Beach, VA, offers some information.
Get That Appointment Rescheduled
Don’t let the pandemic completely derail your oral health. Don’t wait to get your appointment rescheduled. You still want to get it done as soon as possible so that it’s around the time you were supposed to get your appointment originally. Call us or use our online scheduling tool. We’ll make sure to set you up with something as soon as we can.
Keep Up With a Home Oral Healthcare Routine
One of the best ways to help your oral health is to make sure you’re keeping with a consistent routine at home. We know it can be hard when your daily routine is upended. You may be adjusting to working from home or helping your children with online learning. Brushing and flossing may fall by the wayside. But it’s important to keep up if you don’t want to deal with tooth decay and gum disease.
Make sure that you’re brushing and flossing at least twice a day. You can’t really brush too much, so if it helps you remember, clean your teeth after every meal. Another good idea is to set an alarm or reminder on your phone to go off in both mornings and evenings. This can also alert the entire household that it’s time to take care of their teeth!
Try to Keep a Balanced and Healthy Diet
Things are different with the pandemic. Grocery stores may have limited hours and you want to try to avoid peak times. They may have a shortage of things that you want to buy or are that are best for your diet. But there are some simple ways that you can take care of your oral health with what you eat and drink.
First, avoid eating and drinking things with excess sugar. There are oral bacteria in your mouth that use sugar as their main food source. When they eat it, they excrete an acidic byproduct that eats away at the enamel on your teeth. This is what leads to tooth decay and cavities. If it’s not treated or taken care of in a decent amount of time, it can also lead to the need for a root canal or tooth extraction.
Drinking water as your main beverage is one of the best things you can do for your mouth. If you’re drinking tap water, there’s a solid chance that it’s fortified with fluoride. Fluoride helps strengthen the enamel on your teeth. Water also helps rinse away sugar and food particles from your smile. Keeping your mouth well-hydrated gives you fresher breath, too.
Your Dentist in Virginia Beach, Virginia
We’re ready to take care of you and any stress-related issues caused by the pandemic when this is over. Call us or schedule an appointment online for the future. We hope to see your smile in our office soon!