Four Oral Hygiene Precautions You Must Keep in Mind amid the COVID-19 Crisis
With the COVID-19 global crisis, it has become more important to prioritise personal hygiene than ever. Health practitioners, including your family dentiste, advise to regularly wash your hands with soap and running water or use a hand sanitizer gel. Personal hygiene protects you and the people around you. And to maximise your protection and maintain your overall health, you must also pay attention to your oral health in this time of crisis. Here are some oral hygiene precautions you must adhere to:
Avoid Sharing a Toothbrush
Regardless of how close you are or how you are related to someone, you must not share your toothbrush with them. Sharing of toothbrushes is a way to spread viruses and other disease-causing microbes to and from other people.
Change your Toothbrush Regularly
Make sure to change your toothbrush at least every three months or sooner. This makes sure the toothbrush is still effective at doing its job and prevents the spread of bacteria. If you are a suspected COVID-19 victim or suffering from the disease, change your toothbrush right away.
Give your Family Dentist a Visit
You must visit your family dentist routinely even during this crisis. Although emergency treatment might still be available, other routine procedures might need to be postponed, so ensure to call your dentist in advance.
Pay Attention to the Basics
While you stay in your home as compliance to social distancing protocols, make sure you don’t forget the basic daily habits for maintaining good oral hygiene such as the following:
- Brushing your teeth at least two times every day with fluoride toothpaste. This must be done before you sleep at night and during the day, particularly after every meal.
- Reduce your intake of sugary foods and drinks. Sugar is not good for your overall health and can damage your teeth. Thus, as you might be staying at home as adherence to stay-at-home protocols, you might be tempted to munch on some sweet treats. But, if you want to keep your teeth healthy and strong, you must down on sugary items and focus on consuming lots of water.
- Floss your teeth. Brushing your teeth is not enough to ensure your teeth are free of any food particles. That is why you must floss your teeth to eliminate any food particles that may be trapped in between your teeth. Also, think about using mouthwash to keep mouth bacteria at bay.