With COVID-19 affecting the entire nation, most dental practices have to cancel or postpone dental care that’s non-emergency. This means your regular checkup and cleaning may have been delayed. What should you do if you’re missing your appointment? Dr. Brent Engelberg of AH Smiles, a dentist in Arlington Heights, IL, offers some tips.
Get That Appointment Rescheduled
It’s important that you don’t wait a full year from your last checkup to get another one. While it may be a bit delayed, getting one sooner rather than later is much better. Our office may have already reached out to you to get rescheduled. If not, please call us or use our online scheduling tool to make sure you’re set for when isolation is lifted.
Keep a Regular Oral Healthcare Routine
Things are in flux throughout the nation. You may be currently adjusting to losing your job, working from home, or helping children with online learning and staying occupied during this time. It’s easy for you to drop things, forgetting to do simple tasks like brushing and flossing when you’re out of your regular routine.
It’s crucial that you brush and floss at least twice a day, though. Otherwise, you have a much higher chance of having problems with tooth decay or gum disease. If it helps you to remember, brush and floss after every meal. Brushing more often is a good thing! You can also set a reminder or alarm on your phone to brush in the mornings and evenings. This can help the entire household if others are struggling with the new normal.
Try to Eat a Healthy, Balanced Diet
We know that it can be hard with limited trips to the grocery store and the store possibly low on foods you want. But try to make sure your diet isn’t suffering too much during this time. Most importantly for your teeth, try not to eat too much sugar. Sugar feeds harmful bacteria in your mouth, and those bacteria release an acidic byproduct. This byproduct eats through the enamel on your teeth, leading to cavities.
Next, drink a lot of water. This helps not only your oral health but the health of your entire body. Water keeps your mouth hydrated, which is important for keeping your breath fresh and other things. If you’re drinking tap water, it often is fortified with fluoride, which helps strengthen the enamel on your teeth. Water also helps with flushing sugars and food particles away from your smile.
Last, try to eat a decent amount of fresh vegetables and fruits, particularly those with a fibrous texture. This includes carrots, celery, pears, and apples. The texture requires a lot of chewing to break them down, which increases saliva production. Saliva is essential for rinsing sugars and food out of your mouth. Fibrous foods also can help get stuck food particles out from between your teeth.
Your Dentist in Arlington Heights, Illinois
After the pandemic, it’s also a good idea to get a checkup to see the impacts of stress on your smile. We’ll be here when the crisis is over and you’re able to come in. Call us or schedule an appointment online for the future. We hope we’ll see your smile in our office soon!