Due to COVID-19, many dental offices have been following the ADA’s recommendations that they remain closed to everything but emergency dental services. This means that other appointments may be canceled or postponed. But what does this mean if your appointment was impacted by this? Dr. Rawley Fuller of Fuller Dental, a dentist in Burlington, NC, offers some tips.

Reschedule That Appointment

Even though it isn’t considered an emergency, your appointment is still important. Your regular dental cleaning and checkup for preventative care are still crucial for maintaining good oral hygiene. Our office may have already reached out to you about getting rescheduled. If not, call us or use our online scheduling tool to get something set up for the future.

Keep Up With an Oral Hygiene Routine at Home

Make sure you’re keeping up with a regular oral healthcare routine at home, especially in these trying times. We know that it can be hard to remember everything when your normal has been changed completely. You may be adjusting to new things like working from home or helping children with online learning. Things that you consider smaller, like brushing consistently, may get forgotten.

However, if you want to prevent problems with tooth decay and gum disease, brushing and flossing regularly is essential. Try setting an alarm or reminder on your phone for mornings and evenings. This helps you to brush at least twice a day, which is the minimum. You can brush more often, too. If it helps you to remember, brush and floss after every meal. This also gets food particles away from your teeth ASAP.

Watch What You’re Consuming

You may not have a perfectly healthy and balanced diet during this time. Grocery stores have limited hours and are struggling to keep the shelves stocked. Many of us are also turning to comfort food, which often isn’t the healthiest. However, there are some simple things that you can do with your diet to help with your oral health.

First, limit the amount of sugar you’re consuming. Sugar is one of the worst things for your oral health. Harmful oral bacteria use it as their main food source and then give off an acidic byproduct. This byproduct eats through the enamel on your teeth. This is what causes problems with dental cavities and further tooth decay. The more sugar you eat, the more this byproduct is being released into your mouth.

Also, make sure water is the main drink you’re consuming. It doesn’t contain hidden sugars and additives like other drinks can. If you’re drinking tap water, there’s a good chance that it’s fortified with fluoride. This strengthens your tooth enamel. Even if your water doesn’t, it’s still the best choice for your oral health. It helps keep your mouth hydrated and rinses sugars and food particles away from your smile.

Your Dentist in Burlington, North Carolina

We’re going to be here for you to make sure the stress of the pandemic hasn’t impacted your smile. Call us or schedule an appointment online for the future!