Looking after your teeth during Covid-19 isolation

1) Maintain a consistent and thorough Oral Health Care Routine

• Brush your teeth with a soft bristled tooth brush at least twice a day for at least two minutes each time.
• It is recommended we brush our teeth first thing in the morning and just before going to bed. If you feel the need it is also not incorrect to brush after breakfast
• To reduce staining on teeth avoid drinking black coffee for at least one hour after brushing in the morning
• Always use small circular movements when brushing and avoid “scrubbing” movements
• Always remember to help young children brush their teeth. It helps them develop good habits and technique

2) Flossing is essential even for kids

• Flossing removes plaque, food debris and other build up from between teeth. Bacteria feast on residual plaque and food debris releasing acid as a by-product as well as toxins.
• The acid released by bacteria dissolves tooth enamel and causes cavities, Toxins cause inflammation of the gums which causes Gingivitis and eventually leads to gum disease.
• Flossing is recommended twice a day and your night flossing should be your very best.

3) Replace your toothbrush regularly

• It is recommended we replace our toothbrush whether electric brush head or convention toothbrush every 3 months or roughly speaking very season change so we don’t forget.

4) Using a mouthwash

• If you feel the need to use a mouthwash always use an alcohol free mouthwash.
• Decay prone patients should use a high fluoride mouth rinse and strictly abide by the directions recommended by the manufacturer or prescribing Dental Professional.
• Peroxide mouthwashes work well in reducing gum disease causing bacteria as well as some viruses.
• Antiseptic mouthwashes can be used to treat mouth ulcers and gingivitis, but should only be used periodically as they can cause staining and altered taste.

5) Be mindful of grinding and clenching during sleep or even during the day

• As humans we tend to grind and clench our teeth when stressed or anxious. Occasionally it’s just habitual.
• Children very commonly grind their teeth in their sleep.
• We can protect our teeth and to some degree discourage clenching and grinding by providing you with a bite splint. Regrettably we cannot make a bite splint for children as they are still growing so we don’t want to retard that growth on their jaw. There are however other solutions for children and each should be addressed with your dentist.

6) Diet and Hydration

• As with everything nutrition is paramount to the health of our body and mind
• Have a well-balanced diet of adequate amount of fruit, vegetables and protein.
• Drink at least 1.5 litres of water per day. Fluoridated water is always best and Sydney water is excellent. Avoided carbonated drinks even the diet ones as they have a low pH making them acidic and potentially damaging to teeth
• Avoid high sugar content in any form as this contributes to acid production by bacteria as well as their proliferation leading to a myriad of problems in our mouths and our body.
• Never bite into food that is too hard in order to prevent any fracture of your teeth
• Always floss food that is caught between your teeth, leaving it in place leads to decay.
• Moderate use of sugar free gum helps stimulate saliva flow and as well as cleaning our teeth help dilute the acids that can cause harm to our enamel.

7) Always contact us in an emergency

• Our practice has dedicated paging service. This paging service has an operator which takes your call and then messages our Dental clinicians with your message. We will return your call and discuss the problem and arrange for the appropriate time to meet with you for treatment.
• An emergency would include any trauma, infection, tooth ache or pain coming from your mouth or Jaw.
• Our Paging service number is 02 9962 5206.