London based dentist, Dr Chandni Nakumshares shares her tips on managing oral hygiene during this pandemic.
Lockdown has led to various changes in lifestyle and undoubtedly there is a lot of worry surrounding our general health and wellbeing. With dental practices being currently closed and only emergency centres open, understandably, it can be worrying.
With such limited availability to see a dentist it can be said that looking after your oral health is at its most vital and critical time.
Often oral hygiene can be neglected but oral health is a huge part of general wellbeing. We spoke to Dr Chandni Nakum, a general dentist who shares her top tips on looking after your oral hygiene at home.
Eating healthy
Not only is eating healthy great for general wellbeing but also for your teeth! Our teeth are made up of minerals so any sugar attack from juices, sweets, fizzy drinks and high sugar smoothies can all start to cause cavities by producing acids on the tooth. This can lead to toothache and sensitivity.
Try to avoid hard foods, often it can be that one lemon sherbet to cause a chip or a crack on a tooth or sticky foods which can lift compromised fillings or crowns.
These sticky foods will also stick to surfaces of the teeth for a longer time which increases chances of decay especially if they’re sugary!
Brushing regime
Everybody knows about the importance of brushing but very often it’s done for a quick minute and that also whilst still half asleep!
Toothbrushing should be done for 2 minutes and at least twice a day. Removing all the germs and plaque that has accumulated on the teeth before bed is very important and during one other time during the day, usually morning. Whether it is an electric toothbrush or manual it is important the brushing itself is thorough.
Clean between teeth and looking after the gums is also equally as important. Brushing with a fluoride tooth not only helps reduce decay but also helps to prevent gum disease.
Flossing is an essential step of good oral hygiene but often if the gaps between teeth are large then using interdental brushes can be very useful.
Bad breath can be a taboo topic. The tongue harbours millions of bacteria and often this can be the cause of bad breath. It may be worth buying a tongue scraper to help remove these nasty bacteria and bugs.
Cleaning the tongue works by reducing the number of bacteria which accumulate on the tongue thus reducing malodour and bad breath.
Relaxation
Currently in these unprecedented times there is a lot of reason for stress and anxiety. Stress is one of the leading risk factors for gum disease. Moreover, stress can cause and exacerbate jaw ache and muscle pain.
Often stress can be a cause of teeth clenching and grinding which again can cause aches and wearing of the surfaces of teeth. Whichever method of relaxation, be it listening to music, going for a walk, reading a book or simple meditation, now is the time!