Do your days feel as if they are running together? If COVID-19 has you spending more time at home thumbing through the channels or re-watching old episodes of The Office for the 100th time, why not spice up your daily routine by working on your smile? Even if you are diligent about your oral hygiene regime, there are always ways you can improve the health of your teeth and gums. While you wait to get in to see your dentist in Frisco, consider these 5 great tips that will get you off the couch and working toward a healthier smile.
Don’t Forget to Use Mouthwash
All it takes is 20 ml of an ADA-approved mouthwash to give your smile a cleaner, fresher look and feel. Brushing and flossing can leave debris behind. Fortunately, by incorporating rinsing into your oral hygiene regime, this will effectively flush out anything that could potentially remain on your teeth and gums and lead to tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease.
Avoid Bad Breath by Using a Tongue Scraper
No matter if you live alone or with your spouse and kids, no one wants to be around someone with bad breath. When bacteria are allowed to accumulate on the tongue, it can not only cause serious dental problems to develop, but it can also lead to bad breath. To combat this, a tongue scraper can easily remove built-up bacteria. If you don’t want to purchase this type of product, you can simply brush your tongue while cleaning your teeth.
Be Mindful of Your Snacking Habits
Potato chips or celery? Gummy bears or apple slices? While at home, it’s easy to reach for the most convenient snacking options; however, those filled with sugar and starch will cause you to spend lots of time and money in the dentist’s office once it reopens. Why? Because you’ll need dental fillings and/or crowns to fix the cavities that have formed amid this pandemic. Instead of opting for the sweet and salty snacks, try incorporating healthier alternatives like fruits, vegetables, dairy, and even lean proteins.
Change Out Your Toothbrush
If at any point you have become sick, or your toothbrush bristles are looking frayed, it’s time to swap out your old brush for a new one. Germs can live on the surface for a long time. If you’ve been ill and are now feeling better, these same bacteria can reenter your mouth when brushing your teeth and cause you to become sick again. The rule of thumb is to always replace your toothbrush or electric brush head every 3-4 months. This will keep you and your smile healthy.
Brush Your Teeth for Two Minutes
Grab a timer, stopwatch, or any other device that will help you remember to brush your teeth for a full two minutes. Too often, people mindlessly clean their teeth with no regard to how long they should be performing the task. For some, they can get lost scrolling through their phone while foam bubbles over into the sink. Others will do a quick swipe along the top and bottom before rushing back to the couch before their favorite TV show comes back on. Two minutes is the necessary length of time it takes to brush teeth effectively. If you want to avoid spending your money on fillings and crowns, take the time to clean your smile the right way.
If you follow these oral health tips in Frisco, you’ll be surprised at what kind of positive response you will get when you go back for a regular checkup and cleaning.
About the Author
Dr. Jill Wade earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Baylor University in 1995. After attaining her Master of Academy of General Dentistry (MAGD) designation, she became a founding member of the American Academy of Oral Systemic Health. She and the team at Stonebriar Smile Design want to ensure your mouth and body are in optimal health, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Until our office reopens, we are happy to provide tips, advice, and recommendations on what you can do at home to keep your smile looking great. Please contact us at (469) 361-0081 and let us help you improve your oral hygiene habits today.
