10 Ways To Maintain Good Oral Health During Lockdown

With most of us working from home, home-schooling underway and regular dental check-ups now off the radar for the time-being, it’s crucial to look after your teeth during the coronavirus pandemic.

“Maintaining healthy teeth, mouth and gums helps avoid future dental treatments,” Mayur N Pandya, Dentist and Chief Clinical Officer of Together Dental says. “Keeping your oral health routine during this ‘stay- at- home’ time, and creating positive habits can also help maintain a more positive mind-set.”

Here are the Together Dental’s ‘Top 10’ things you can do to maintain good oral health from home:

1. Moderate your diet               
   Of course, what you eat has a massive effect on your teeth. You should increase the amount of vegetables which contain healthy fibre. You should reduce the frequency of consumption of sugary and acidic foods and drinks. Sugar is converted into acid in the mouth which can then dissolve the enamel of your teeth. Acidic fruits, fruit teas and fizzy drinks can also erode tooth enamel so enjoy these things only in moderation.
2. Don’t go to bed without brushing your teeth        
   Brushing before bed leaves your mouth clean overnight, when your mouth becomes drier, and bacteria begin to multiply. By removing the plaque that has accumulated throughout the day, you can reduce your risk of gum disease and dental decay. Plaque is a biofilm of bacteria that coats the surfaces of your teeth.
3. Brush-up on your brushing technique       
   Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice a day, when you get up and before you go to bed, for two minutes to help keep your teeth and mouth healthy. At night time, try not to rinse after brushing to leave a reservoir of fluoride which will help to re-mineralise tooth enamel and prevent cavities.
4. Slow down!           
   Most people brush their teeth in a hurry. To do a good job of cleaning your teeth it is important not to rush it. Work slowly in soft, gentle, circular motions, taking your time and moving the toothbrush to remove plaque. Any unremoved plaque can eventually harden, leading to tartar build-up and the beginnings of gum disease.
5. Go electric        
   It doesn’t matter whether you use an electric or manual toothbrush, they are both equally as good, as long as you brush ALL the surfaces of ALL of your teeth and gently angle the bristles towards the gumline. That said, electric toothbrushes do take the effort out of brushing, allowing you to focus on your technique.
6. Fluoride, fluoride, fluoride                
   Use fluoride toothpaste. Adults should use a toothpaste that contains at least 1,450 parts per million (ppm) fluoride. At night time, try not to rinse after brushing to leave a reservoir of fluoride which will help to remineralise tooth enamel and prevent cavities. During the day, after meals, use an alcohol-free fluoride mouthwash to keep your enamel strong.
7. Floss
   Flossing isn’t just for getting those little bits of food that are stuck in between your teeth. It is much more about reducing plaque in between teeth, the gumline and helping to lower any gum inflammation in your mouth. Flossing once a day is usually enough to make a big difference to gum health.
8. Stop Smoking and Moderate your Alcohol intake                    
   Smoking is not just bad for our general health but puts us at risk of oral cancer. Around 90% of mouth cancers can be linked to preventable lifestyle factors such as smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. Smoking and drinking together increases the risk of mouth cancer by up to 30 times. Use this time at home to stop smoking and moderate your alcohol consumption.
9. Sensitivity          
   Tooth sensitivity is usually caused by exposed dentine. Sometimes this may be caused by over-zealous tooth-brushing. Changing to a softer brush and using a sensitive toothpaste (e.g. Sensodyne Rapid Relief) may help. Apply the sensitive toothpaste as a cream in the sensitive area at night and leave it there to act for several hours.
10. Think of looking after your teeth as part of your positive personal routine                   
    Habits such as getting up at a regular time, following the same personal hygiene routine, eating and exercising at set times can all help to support a positive mindset

As well as helping you establish a routine, having a fresh mouth and beautifully clean teeth will make you feel better and prevent future dental problems.

Together Dental, in line with the latest guidance from NHS England, is offering a dental health advice line to help people at home. If you have a dental emergency you can call them on 01277 289096 or visit www.together.dental