Since the pandemic broke out, a lot of families have experienced delays in receiving dental care. Plenty of children worldwide don’t have access to proper oral care primarily because of the risk of exposing themselves and their dentists to the virus.
Since the virus is easily transmitted via respiratory droplets, it puts dentists and their patients in a delicate situation where administering dental care is already a high-risk task.
For this reason, many cases that could have been easily handled in a clinic setting have been put off until further notice since the nearest dental clinic or orthodontic dental laboratory is probably still temporarily closed. While some clinics have reopened, because of the present health climate, getting a dental appointment has also proven to be quite challenging and frustrating.
This is why proper oral care should be observed. And not just merely observed, you need to take it to the next level to ensure that while dentist visits are hard to come by, you and your family won’t have big problems when it comes to your oral health.
Why is oral care a big deal during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Taking care of your family’s oral health is one of the ways you can help dentists minimize the risk of getting themselves exposed to the virus. It also protects you because you don’t need to go out and expose yourself to possible asymptomatic carriers.
One of the most common dental problems is tooth decay caused by cavities or caries. This problem may be preventable but once tooth decay begins, it will get worse if left untreated. Do yourself and your dentist a favor and take better care of your teeth.
Simply put, the fewer dental visits you make, the lesser the risk of getting yourself and your dentist — and in essence, all the patients he or she comes into contact with — exposed to the virus.
How to maintain good oral health as a family during the pandemic
We cannot stress enough how important it is to maintain good oral health at this time. You can get your whole family involved in the fight against COVID by making it easy for dentists.
Brush your teeth regularly. At least twice a day. It would be better if you can help your children build the habit of brushing after every meal. Teach them the proper way of brushing their teeth. Use toothpaste that has fluoride in it.
Give your children fluoridated water. Give your children fluoridated water in-between meals and avoid serving them sweet juices, especially in sippy cups. You can serve them plain milk for their meals.
Avoid too many sweets and junk food. Diet affects your dental health, and vice versa. If you allow your children to constantly eat unhealthy food such as sweets and junk, their oral health will eventually suffer in the form of dental caries and other oral diseases.
Get in touch with your dentist. If you have any immediate concerns with your or your child’s oral health, pick up the phone and call your dentist. While not all dental services are fully operational now, they could help shed light on your situation and give you the appropriate advice and recommendation.
As more and more dental clinics are starting to operate again, you can eventually go back to your regular dental check-ups. In the meantime, keep yourself and your family protected from dental diseases and COVID-19 by taking good care of your teeth.
