With the COVID-19 pandemic, many of our routine appointments have been canceled or postponed. Chances are if you’ve had a dental checkup or cleaning scheduled recently, this has happened to you. So what should you do in the meantime? Dr. Dhara Patel of Best Dental Spa, a dentist in Hoffman Estates, IL, gives some tips.
Get Rescheduled!
While the pandemic is anticipated to last for at least another few weeks, you can still get a new appointment rescheduled for the future. Our staff may have already reached out to you to get a new appointment scheduled. If not, give us a call or use the online scheduling tool to get set up. We’re hoping to see you soon and get you taken care of!
Keep Up Your Oral Healthcare Routine at Home
If your daily routine has been disrupted due to working from home or being laid off, it’s hard to keep up with even simple things. Kids are doing classes at home or are off school and you have to figure out activities to keep them busy. Little things like a normal oral healthcare routine can fall by the wayside.
Make an effort to get into a new daily routine if possible. Keeping up with oral healthcare, especially if you’re due for a bi-annual cleaning, is crucial to fighting tooth decay. It’s essential to ensure that you’re still brushing and flossing at least two times a day. If needed, set a reminder or something on your phone to make sure the whole family gets their daily brushings in!
Practice a Healthy Diet
Diet actually has a big impact on your oral health. For example, you probably know that you need to limit the sugar in your diet. The bacteria in your mouth feed off of sugar and their byproduct is acid. This acid is what causes tooth decay, wearing through the enamel on your teeth. It’s also essential to avoid things that can crack or break your teeth, leading to the need for an emergency dentistry repair.
Eating healthy things that are good for your teeth is just as essential as avoiding problem foods. First, drinking water is one of the best things you can do. If it’s tap water, it often contains fluoride, which helps strengthen the enamel on your teeth. It also helps keep your mouth hydrated, washing away any leftover particles of food or sugars left in your mouth.
Fresh fruits and vegetables are also great things for your teeth. Things like celery and apples are fibrous and require a lot of chewing. This increases saliva production and also helps clean out in between your teeth.
Chewing sugarless gum is actually very beneficial four your mouth as well. If you’re unable to brush your teeth right after a meal, it makes a decent substitute. It provides similar benefits to eating fresh fruits and veggies, like saliva production and getting food particles out from between your teeth.
Your Dentist in Hoffman Estates, Illinois
Keep your dental health up and get ready to reschedule your dental cleaning and checkup. If you experience a dental emergency, call us immediately as we’re still handling emergency dentistry during this trying time. Call us or schedule an appointment online!
