How To Keep Your Teeth Healthy When You Can’t See The Dentist

If you’re unable to see your dentist due to the COVID-19 outbreak or for any other reason, you may be wondering what steps you can take to keep your teeth healthy and avoid common oral health problems like gingivitis and cavities. In this guide from Thrive Family Dental, we’ll explain a few steps you can take to maintain better oral health when you can’t see your dentist for preventive care in Wilmington.

1. Make Sure You’re Brushing At Least Twice A Day For Two Minutes 

If you want to make sure you keep your teeth healthy while you can’t see your dentist in Wilmington, the most important thing you can do is brush properly and regularly. You need to brush twice a day for two minutes using a fluoride-based toothbrush. Be very thorough, and clean each quadrant of your mouth for at least 30 seconds. For the best results, it’s a good idea to brush once in the morning after breakfast and once before bed.

2. Floss Once A Day & Follow Up With Antiseptic Mouthwash 

As long as you consistently floss once per day, you can do it whenever you want. Flossing is critical for removing food particles, plaque, and bacteria that your toothbrush can’t reach, so it’s an indispensable part of a good dental hygiene routine.

After you floss, we highly recommend using an antiseptic mouthwash of your choice. This will further loosen and rinse away food particles and debris that were knocked loose by the process of flossing, enhancing the efficiency of your oral care routine.

3. Maintain A Healthy Diet Low In Sugary Foods 

Wondering how you should eat for a healthier mouth? As a rule, foods that are good for your body, like whole grains, fresh fruits, and vegetables, are also good for your teeth.

The opposite is true, too. Unhealthy, processed foods like cookies, candy, potato chips, and other such foods and snacks are high in sugar and simple starches that oral bacteria love to eat, and can contribute to tooth decay. Reduce your intake of these foods whenever possible.

4. Don’t Drink Sugary Beverages

Try to cut back on the sugar you use in your morning coffee or tea, or switch to an artificial sweetener. You should also avoid beverages like soda, most types of fruit juice, and sugary cocktails. Consuming a lot of high-sugar beverages creates the perfect environment for tooth decay, so try to cut back and drink more tap water, or unflavored, unsweetened seltzer water like La Croix. 

5. Minimize Snacking 

Snacking or “grazing” on a little bit of food periodically throughout the day is bad for your oral health. When you frequently snack, food particles will build up on your teeth faster than they can be rinsed away. Stick to eating 3 square meals a day with 1-2 snacks for a healthier mouth.

Follow These Tips To Maintain A Healthy Mouth When You Can’t See The Dentist 

‍
If you can’t see your dentist in Wilmington or Porters Neck, these tips will ensure that your mouth stays healthy until you can schedule an appointment. Looking for a new dentist in the area? At Thrive Family Dental, we’re open for all appointments, and Dr. Ben Friberg is taking every possible precaution to keep our patients safe during this difficult time. Contact us online or give us a call at (910) 240-4797 to learn more and get the care you need.