So, you are now stuck at home now. You might be lounging around, watching TV, playing video games, or even working from home. Depending on who you ask, this is either a blessing or a miserable experience. Either way, one of the features – out of many – that remain important is your dental health.

You may not be strolling through the mall and smiling at strangers with pearly whites, and even if you are the only one who will ever see your teeth during quarantine, it’s still important to ensure proper oral health is followed. After all, close-up and in-person communications isn’t the only way to engage with your loved ones anymore. You have Zoom, Duo, Facetime, and many other types of videos chat.

We have compiled some dental tips that you can keep in mind during this pandemic. We will be covering what to do during an emergency and what dental care procedures you should be following.

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Bacteria that affect your dental health is not going to sit on the sidelines while COVID-19 continues to run rampant. Brushing and flossing daily is important for preventing tooth decay and plaque build-up. In fact, because you likely have more time on your hands now, there are fewer excuses to not brush and floss frequently!

It is recommended to brush twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. You’d be amazed how often many people don’t follow this simply guideline. When brushing in the morning, do it after your breakfast. Eating immediately after brushing defeats the entire purpose and reverses the positive effects; it also changes the flavors of your next meal and not for the better. If you’re this type of person, then you probably know what I’m talking about.

Using a soft-bristled brush with an ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste is the recommended brushing tools of choice, bonus points if you have an electric toothbrush. Another tip that we can give is to brush gently. Scrubbing your teeth as if you are using a scratch pad on dirty dishes will not get your teeth any cleaner. Brushing harshly strips away your enamel and wears out the edge of your gums, which can expose the enamel under the gums, making it entirely counterproductive.

Next, flossing once a day is beneficial. We promise it doesn’t take as long as you think it does and it will leave you feeling better after you’ve completed. Doing this regularly will help you get used to the regular clean feeling and develop muscle memory. As food gets caught in between the teeth more plaque build-up can develop. Not maintaining this properly can lead to more serious complication like cavities, gingivitis, and even periodontal disease over time.

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Dental emergencies can happen whether you are under quarantine or not. Dental offices around the country have decided to remain open for emergency-related incidents. Checkups might not be an option during these hard times, but dental emergencies such as chipped teeth and severe toothaches are critical conditions that need to be treated.

Got into a disagreement with a family member? Or maybe a fall as occurred. We won’t judge, but it is important to react immediately to this situation. The tooth can be saved if you are able to get to a dental office quickly.

Once the tooth has been knocked out, it will rapidly start to dry out and die and as such, putting the lost tooth in milk is preferable. If you do not have milk, then you can use water. Keeping the tooth moist is a high priority. You should also apply gauze to the injured area of the mouth to help with the bleeding.

This can happen by surprise such as biting down on something that is a bit too hard for a tooth to handle. If you’re the unlucky one that gets to experience this, a dental veneer is a shore way to fix this problem. Call your local dentist and ask them if this problem is considered a dental emergency. Apply gauze – if the tooth is bleeding – and try to get to a dental office immediately. A chipped tooth may seem like it’s only a cosmetic mishap, but the inner soft dentin layer of the tooth can be exposed, causing bacteria to progress 9 times as fast, this will not have any mercy on sensitivity and tooth decay.

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If you are following proper brushing and flossing procedures, you are preventing tooth decay from occurring which in turn prevents agonizing pain. Impact related accidents can happen out of nowhere, but food choices can help protect you from breaking a weakened tooth enamel. Popcorn kernels, fruit pits, hard pizza crust, and extremely hard candies are known to crack or chip a weak enamel so try to eat these with caution.