Your oral health is directly connected to your overall health. When we neglect our teeth, it can lead to increased risk for serious health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and other issues that can weaken your immune system. With a weakened immune system, you are more at risk for developing Covid-19. With the world currently in the grips of a pandemic, oral health is more important than ever. 

With quarantine measures beginning to lift in Ontario, some people are wondering when they can get back to regular things like haircuts and dentist appointments. Until the best dentist in Ottawa is back up and operating, it is essential to take care of your oral health. Here are some suggestions for keeping your mouth and teeth healthy during the pandemic.

Keep Up With Your Regular Oral Hygiene

You’ve heard it said again and again since you were a child - brush your teeth twice a day and don’t forget the floss. Keeping up a regular dental routine is essential to care for your teeth during a pandemic, Here is why proper brushing and flossing is so important: 

• Harmful bacteria love to attach themselves to sugary food and starch particles left on your teeth. As the bacteria eat away at these particles, it creates harmful acid and plaque that can weaken your tooth enamel over time, leading to tooth decay and gum disease. 

• Brushing helps clear away food particles and plaque that forms on your teeth and gums after you eat. 

• Brushing with fluoride toothpaste helps keep your tooth enamel strong and healthy.

• Flossing clears away food particles and plaque in between your teeth where your toothbrush can’t reach. 

Clean and Change Your Toothbrush

Your toothbrush can be a place for harmful bacteria to grow. If you are worried that your toothbrush is contaminated, you can clean it by soaking it in a glass of antibacterial mouthwash for 30 seconds. Be sure you have enough to cover the bristles. If you don’t have mouth wash, you can also store your toothbrush in a 3% Hydrogen Peroxide (H202) solution that is changed daily. Just be sure to rinse it off before you use it. 

Be sure to change your toothbrush every three months or so, or notice the bristles starting to bend outward. Some toothbrushes have blue indicators that tell you when a change is needed. 

Healthy Diet

Eating fresh foods and vegetables during quarantine will give your overall health a boost as well as improve your oral health. Foods like broccoli and beans are high in calcium, which helps strengthen your tooth enamel. Bananas also contain potassium, magnesium and calcium, making them a great snack. Look for foods that are high in vitamins and minerals to give your whole body a boost.  

Wear A Tooth guard

If you are someone who grinds their teeth at night (also known as Bruxism), be sure to wear your mouthguard. Some people find they grind their teeth more when they are stressed, and a global pandemic is no doubt a source of stress. If you have just started to grind your teeth, you can get a custom mouth guard at most pharmacies or drug stores. 

Check with Your Dentist

Every area in Ontario will have a different time frame for reopening. Check in with your Cosmo Dental Centre office to find out when they plan on opening for regular elective treatments. If you do have a dental emergency, call your dental office right away. Some dentists are already accepting patients for emergency procedures, or you can go to your nearest emergency room for treatment.