Coronavirus (COVID-19) UPDATES Click Here HOME ABOUT US SERVICES PATIENT PORTAL CAREERS GET INVOLVED CONTACT US DONATE Keeping Your Teeth Healthy During COVID-19 Home > About Us > Our Blog > 2020 > April > 9 > Keeping Your Teeth Healthy During COVID-19 April 9, 2020 | Share This Post: By Tracy Waldron Practice Manager, Whitney Young Health Dental Department Good dental hygiene might not be in the front of your mind in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, but that could change quickly if you lose a filling or develop a painful cavity and can’t get in to see a dentist. Here are some tips for everyday dental care that can help you and your family keep teeth and gums healthy during the pandemic - and beyond. ORAL CARE Brushing and Flossing: Dentists advise maintaining a daily routine of brushing teeth twice a day and flossing once daily to prevent tooth decay. Brush for 2 minutes: Dentists and hygienists advise brushing for 60 seconds on your upper teeth and 60 seconds on your lower teeth – make sure that you brush the fronts and the backs of your teeth and the left and right sides of your mouth on both the upper and lower teeth. Take care when flossing: Be careful not to pull out a filling! Pull the floss through the area between your teeth side-to-side instead of up-and-down through the area where your teeth touch. Rinse twice a day: Rinsing with a non-alcohol-based mouthwash twice daily can also help reduce plaque buildup leading to inflammation of the gums, also known as gingivitis. Please note that during the pandemic, it’s not advised to use any mouthwash or toothpaste that is meant to kill oral bacteria, because it can get rid of good bacteria as well as the bad! Toothbrush hygiene: Keep your brush clean! Make sure to rinse your toothbrush well after brushing. Replace your toothbrush every 3 months. If you are sick, throw away your old toothbrush and replace it with a new one once you are feeling well – even it hasn’t been 3 months. DIET MATTERS Avoid excessive snacking: Raiding the fridge or opening that bag of chips is a habit that’s all too easy to adopt when dealing with the stress and boredom inherent in self-quarantining or working from home. Stay away from starch: Starchy foods, also known as carbs, lead to acid in our mouths, which dissolves tooth surfaces. Examples of starchy foods include pasta, rice, bread and potatoes. Drinks such as instant ice tea/coffee mixes and beer also contain high levels of starches, and frequent use of alcohol can also dry out the cells in your cheeks and gums. Better snack choices: Fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, and plain yogurt topped with fruit are examples of snacks that are better for your teeth. Stay hydrated: Dentists agree that good hydration, especially by drinking water, is important for oral health. Avoid sugary drinks: Drinking a lot sugar can be detrimental to oral health. Soda, juice, sweetened ice teas and energy drinks all contain high levels of sugar. Smoothies can also be very sugary. Don’t get in a sticky situation: Dentists also recommend avoiding hard and/or sticky foods that can crack a tooth or damage or pull out fillings. Examples include popcorn, peanut brittle, and sticky candy. Remember, these tips don’t mean that you can’t enjoy a treat once in a while – they are guidelines to help you make better choices for the health of your teeth – and the rest of your body! HARMFUL HABITS Smoking inhibits the blood supply to your gums and increases your risk for gum infections. Chewing on ice, pen caps, or fingernails as a means of stress management can cause the teeth to chip or break. Following these guidelines can help you and your family keep your teeth healthy, not just during the COVID-19 pandemic, but at any time. 0 Comments Leave a Reply Name * Email * (Your email will not be publicly displayed.) Comment Please type the letters and numbers shown in the image. Click the image to see another captcha. ARCHIVE October 2021 September 2021 May 2021 April 2021 February 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 March 2015 CATEGORIES events news TAGS #blm 2020 50th anniversary aca affordable care act albany albany county april 2020 award winners black communities black history month black lives matter books coronavirus covid-19 dan bazile donations equinox, inc. events first responders health health disparities healthcare inequality history in the news issues legacy event maria college masks may 2021 mental health merger proposal mobile health unit national health center week news newsletter pandemic people of color primary care protesters safe @ whitney safety spectrum news students swinburne building testing times union times union center to your health vaccine walk-up testing watervliet whitney on wheels whitney young health winter CONTACTS 920 Lark Drive, Albany, NY 12207 518-465-4771 info@wmyhealth.org Follow Us on Facebook Follow Us on Twitter Follow Us on LinkedIn Follow Us on Instagram FREQUENTLY USED FORMS WYH Patient Welcome Packet 2020 Updated.pdf Registration Form-Fillable School-Based Health Center Registration Whitney on Wheels-CHILD Registration Form Dental Services Medical History Advance Directive Forms Guest Dosing Form Sliding Fee Scale Discount Application Travel Immunizations Packet WIC Forms COMMON LINKS Board Portal Careers Directions & Hours Donate Employee Portal Forms Services NEWSLETTER SIGNUP WYH MISSION Whitney M. Young, Jr. Health Center's Mission is to provide access to consistent quality healthcare without regard to income. © 2021 Whitney M Young Health Website by Web Instinct Home Sitemap Contact Us