Arbutus North Dental is committed to be one of the dental practices that are Open Now as a Vancouver Emergency Dentist to serve the Lower Mainland during the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak.
In this time of uncertainty all dental practices are exclusively focused on urgent care and dental emergencies.
While you are waiting for our Vancouver dental clinic to re-open for routine dental care it’s more important than ever to maintain regular home dental hygiene to prevent tooth decay.
Here are 7 tips to help you maintain good oral hygiene and healthy teeth:
- Brush your teeth twice a day with a fluoride-based toothpaste. If you haven’t already, make the switch to an electric toothbrush and brush your teeth for 2 minutes. This has shown to offer the highest levels of oral hygiene.
- Floss at least once a day – but be careful not to pull out a filling while flossing – pull the floss through the area side-to-side instead of up through the tooth contact.
- Rinsing with a non-alcohol-based mouthwash twice a day also can help reduce plaque buildup leading to inflammation of the gums (gingivitis).
- Eat a healthy diet. Avoid excessive snacking, a habit that’s all too easy to adopt when dealing with the stress and boredom inherent in self-quarantining. Starchy foods or drinks lead to acid in our mouths, which dissolves tooth surfaces. The more often our teeth are bathed in these acids, the weaker and softer they become.
- Be wary of chipping or breaking your teeth. Avoid hard foods that can crack a tooth or damage fillings as well as popcorn, peanut brittle, and sticky candy. And don’t manage your stress by chewing on ice, pen caps, or fingernails.
- LImit habits known to be detrimental to oral health. Smoking inhibits the blood supply to your gums and increases your risk for gum infections. High exposure to alcohol can dry out the cells in your cheeks and gums.
- Take good care of your toothbrush. Keep your floss pics, brushes, and tongue cleaners covered. Soaking them in a mixture of mouthwash and hydrogen peroxide also keeps them safe.
Good dental hygiene might not be in the front of your mind during these uncertain times, but that could change quickly with infection or tooth decay. Make it a goal to control the buildup of plaque on your teeth and to maintain healthy gums.
If you need an Emergency Dentist in Vancouver during the COVID-19 outbreak Arbutus North Dental Centre is open and available to provide urgent care for dental emergencies. We are fully equipped with enhanced PPE including N95 masks, face shields, gowns, head cover, and gloves. Appointments will be taken on a case by case basis: please contact us at 604-733-3325 or urgentcare@smilevancouver.ca