Your Guide to Keeping Your Mouth Healthy Until Your Dentist Reopens

April 23, 2020

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, your dentist in Stuart isclosed for all patients except those with dental emergencies. This means thatyour biannual checkupsand cleanings have essentially been postponed until further notice. If you’reone of those people who’s concerned about your oral health, you might beworried about how you’re going to keep your mouth clean in the meantime. Not toworry; here are a few tips on how to maintain your dental health until yourdentist reopens.

Use the Correct Brushing Technique

Quickly swiping your toothbrush over your teeth isn’t enoughto remove harmful food particles and plaque. Instead, use a technique perfectedby the American Dental Association: hold your brush at a 45-degree angle to yourgums and use short back and forth strokes across the fronts and chewingsurfaces of your teeth. For the backs of your front teeth, where plaque likesto accumulate, use short vertical strokes. Also, apply only the gentlestpressure so you don’t irritate your gums and wear down your enamel.

Remember to Floss

You wouldn’t only scrub 60% of your body clean in the shower,would you? Well, that’s what you’re doing when you brush but neglect to floss. Two-fifthsof the surfaces of your teeth remain uncleaned, giving plaque ample room tobuild up and contribute to cavities and gum disease. Set your floss down nextto your toothbrush every night so you remember to clean between your teeth.Better yet, place it on your pillow every day so you can’t go to bed without areminder.

Add Mouthwash to Your Routine

Rinsing with mouthwash cleans out the areas of your mouththat your toothbrush and floss just can’t reach, removing germs that cause oralhealth problems. Find an alcohol-free mouthwash (alcohol depletes your saliva,increasing your risk of decay and gum disease) and incorporate it into your dailydental hygiene routine.

Switch Out Your Brush

If the bristles on your toothbrush appear worn down orfrayed, it’s time to purchase a new one (or a new head if you use an electricbrush). Even if your bristles look fine, it’s a good idea to replace your brushevery three months.

Clean Your Tongue Too

Even after brushing and flossing, bacteria can bere-deposited back on your teeth and gums from your tongue. For this reason, useeither your toothbrush or a tongue scraper (which you can find cheaply in thedental section of most pharmacies) to clean your tongue from back to frontafter brushing.

Your dentist is going to be closed for all non-emergencypatients for the foreseeable future. Hopefully, these oral health tips inStuart are enough to keep your mouth clean until your dentist opens up again.

About the Author

Dr. Amy Crary is a dentist in Stuart, FL who earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree with high honors from the University of Florida College of Dentistry. In addition to being an alumnus of the prestigious Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies, she has achieved a Fellowship in the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain, so she is an expert in treating temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders. Because of COVID-19, her practice is currently closed except for emergency patients. If you think you may be experiencing a dental emergency, don’t hesitate to call (772) 888-1590.