How do I take extra special care of my teeth during COVID-19?
With limited access to general and preventative dental services due to Government restrictions on Dentists during the Covid 19 outbreak, it is even more important to maintain excellent at home oral hygiene. Doing the basics (brushing and flossing) very well will go a long way to keeping teeth and gums healthy during this period.
What foods do I need to avoid?
Every year, many adults and children alike have broken their teeth while enjoying all sorts of foods that are hazardous for their teeth. Avoid hard foods and sticky foods such as boiled sweets, sticky sweets, unpopped popcorn kernels, bones, pork crackling and ice.
Boiled Sweets
Unpopped Popcorn
Sticky Sweets
Pork Crackle
Ice Cubes
Bones
What drinks to I need to avoid?
The enamel on your teeth starts to dissolve when the pH (acid) level drops below 5.5. Energy drinks, soft drinks and sports drinks have a pH of around 3 so as soon as you take a mouthful of these drinks tooth enamel will start to soften. Once the enamel softens, it no longer protects the teeth from decay.
Energy Drinks
Soft Drinks
Sports Drinks
Dental Health Tips
Graze Less
To protect your teeth, try to keep all-day grazing to a minimum. This will give you and your teeth time to recover from sugar and acid attack between meals.
Teeth Aren’t Tools
Sometimes we don’t realise we use our teeth as tools. Take extra special notice of these habits. Avoid:
Opening bottles with your teeth
Ripping off strips of sticky tape with your teeth
Putting pens or other instruments in your mouth
Opening nuts with your teeth
Chew Gum
Chewing sugar free gum stimulates saliva which helps to reduce the acidity in your mouth and can also assist in removing pesky food stuck between your teeth.
Eat Cheese
Ever enjoyed a lovely cheese plater after a meal? Great news - cheese is excellent at reducing the acid levels in your mouth which helps to protect your teeth.
Brush & Floss Daily
Remember to brush twice a day for two minutes with a fluoride toothpaste. Equally important is remembering to floss! As our mouths increase in acidity when we are eating and drinking, it is best to wait at least 20 minutes after your last snack before brushing your teeth.