How to Take Care of Your Oral Health During COVID 19

We don’t have any such information that links oral hygiene to COVID 19, but still taking care of oral hygiene in the time of COVID 19 is very important. In this post, we will answer you why it is so and why you should do that. But before we jump into that part, let’s talk about COVID 19. 

COVID 19 

It is no secret that COVID 19 is an infectious disease. It transmits through the droplets generated by an infected person’s cough, sneeze, and exhale. It also transmits from touching the contaminated surfaces and objects. It is a lethal pandemic that can affect anyone across the globe. 

Presently (16-11-2020), according to the global statistics of COVID 19, more than 54.4 million cases are there across the world. And this number is continuously increasing with a big margin.

Due to this pandemic, we all are going through a lot of changes. We are now more cautious about our health. We regularly sanitize our hands, wear face masks, and keep in distance from other persons. Doing these things routinely is good for protecting ourselves from getting infected from COVID 19. However, doing only these things is not enough. Oral care is equally important. And why it is important, let’s see in the next segment. 

Why Oral Care Is Important During COVID 19? 

Actually, whether it is COVID 19 period or normal life, oral care is always important for better oral health. However, it is much more important during COVID 19 period than normal life. And the reasons are:

Most dental clinics in the badly affected areas in the United States are closed. They are not providing their regular dental care services. Yes, they are available for consultation on different online platforms, but the only consultation cannot treat all the dental problems, especially dental emergency cases. So, keeping yourself on the safe side by taking care of your oral health is important. However, in a case, if you meet a dental emergency, don’t hesitate to talk to emergency dentists in McKinney because dental emergencies need instant treatment. You can’t wait even for a few minutes. 

Poor oral care invites different oral diseases to occur. And if they occur, they can create problems for both you and all whom you meet regularly. The spit, the handkerchief you use, and your impure hands can be a carrier for COVID 19. And they can infect those persons whom you meet regularly. So, taking care of oral hygiene is important. 

Again, poor dental care invites many different dental problems such as tooth pain, gum bleeding, infection, tooth worms, etc. If these dental problems get too serious, you will have to visit a dentist for a quick check-up or taking treatment. This poses some risks of COVID 19 transmission as you will have to travel to meet your concerned dentist. And you don't know how many COVID-19-infected people will come across you. They can infect you. So, keep on the safe side by taking care of your oral health. 

Oral Care Tips- Effective During COVID-19

We conducted comprehensive research and studied the different dentists’ opinions to collect some useful and effective oral care tips that are especially effective during the COVID-19 period. Here are those oral care tips: 

Wash Your Hands for At Least 20 Seconds- Before and after taking any personal dental care, make sure you properly wash your hands. Use your hands with a clinically approved hand wash for at least 20 seconds. This is ideal to stop bacterias and viruses from entering your mouth.

Brush Your Teeth Twice A Day- Every dentist advises brushing teeth at least twice a day. It is so because one-time brushing can not nicely clean your teeth. We eat three times a day and so the small food particles remain in our mouth the whole day. Removing those particles before we go to bed at night is very important because those food particles can give birth to bacterias and infections. And those bacterias and infections can cause different dental diseases. So, remove those food particles from your mouth by brushing your teeth before going to bed and after waking up from the bed. 

Keep Your Brush Clean- Bacterias, mold, and pollutants can stay on the bristles of toothbrushes. Those bacterias, mold, and pollutants can reach your mouth with your toothbrush. And you better know that those are very harmful to your oral health. So, it is very important to keep your toothbrush clean and protected from bacterias, mold, and pollutants. 

To keep your toothbrush clean, you can use antibacterial hygiene toothbrush caps or toothbrush holders, whichever you prefer. These two are protective gear for toothbrushes. You can also use electric toothbrushes if you prefer. They are a great choice for gaining good oral health.  

Rinse Your Mouth With Non-Alcoholic Mouthwash- Rinsing your mouth with a non-alcoholic mouthwash multiple times a day is a great option to prevent plaque build-up and gingivitis. So, make sure you properly rinse your mouth with mouthwash after eating and drinking anything. 

Focus on Your Diets- The way diets matter for your physical health, the same way diets matter for your oral health. So, take a well-balanced diet. Avoid eating too sugary items, snacks, junk foods, and acidic and alcohol-based drinks. These edibles and drinks can affect both your physical and oral health. 

Floss Between Your Teeth At Least Once a Day- Brushing is not enough to remove the food particles stuck between your teeth. To remove those food particles, flossing is important. So, floss between your teeth at least once a day. It will prevent tooth decay, tooth worms, and infections. 

Maintaining Oral Hygiene While You Are Pregnant

When you become pregnant, you could see changes in your hormones, especially progesterone which starts increasing and changing. These hormones not only affect the growth of your baby but also perform so many chemical changes inside your body. That’s why it is important to maintain your teeth and gums while you are pregnant. You can also schedule a visit to McKinney TX dentist when you are planning to get pregnant or already pregnant.

Dental Health During Pregnancy

Though changes are not evident in your dental health during the first trimester, you should not slack off your oral routine like brushing, flossing, and rinsing. You may witness swelling into your gums which could lead to other issues such as periodontal (gum) disease and gingivitis in any trimester of pregnancy. An increase in hormones often leads to dry mouth, especially during the night.

It has been found that 10% of pregnant women experience pregnancy granulomas or gum tissue growths. Changes in hormonal balance relax ligaments into your body which also include those in your mouth. So, keep an eye out for any loose teeth. That’s why we suggest visiting your nearby dentist to keep a check on your teeth and gum’s health.

Have a look at additional tips that you should keep in mind throughout your pregnancy:

·         Those who experience morning sickness must rinse their mouth immediately.

·         Change your toothpaste if it is causing you nauseous. You can switch toothpaste brands or change to a mild flavor.

·         Make sure you brush your teeth from both front and back very well during pregnancy.

·         Brush the gum line to avoid pregnancy gingivitis from occurring.

·         Brush properly to prevent teeth and biting surfaces from dental caries (decay).

·         If you have a midnight snack, make sure you brush your teeth again to reduce the chance of cavities.

·         In addition to flossing and brushing, always rinse your mouth with a fluoride mouthwash.

All these important tips and information is crucial not only for you but also for your new baby. Poor dental hygiene has been associated with premature birth and low birth weight in babies.

Oral Health Distresses During Pregnancy

As already mentioned, pregnancy is associated with bodily changes that can result in numerous oral health effects. Your McKinney TX dentist can easily manage your dental condition and suggest you the best solution. They can provide you a solution for:

·         Gingivitis, or swollen and bleeding gums intensified by inadequate home care and hormonal changes during pregnancy.

·         Tooth erosion linked to an increase in the acidity of saliva caused due to morning sickness

·         Cavities caused by the cravings for sugary foods.

·         Pyogenic granulomas, which are round growths on the gums caused due to hormonal changes

You must talk to your dentist about the treatment options available for you because you are pregnant. They will check you thoroughly and confirm if you are really suffering from the suspected condition. If you require more extensive dental work while pregnant, then you can have a treatment during the second trimester. This is because, by the time you reach your third trimester, it would be difficult for you to lie on your back for a long time and get your treatment done.

Apart from brushing, dental experts outline a few steps for an expectant mother to ensure a healthy mouth during pregnancy. These include:

·         Brush twice a day for 2 minutes each time with fluoride toothpaste.

·         Floss every day to get rid of plaque and food debris

·         Eat a balanced diet, limit snacks, and avoid sugary drinks and foods

·         Maintain a plan of regular dental checkups before and during pregnancy for professional evaluation and cleanings if required.

·         Protect your teeth by rinsing your mouth with a mixture of baking soda and warm water to neutralize stomach acids if you are experiencing morning sickness.

·         Follow home care recommendations or essential treatments suggested by your dentist, such as an antibacterial mouth rinse.

Though the world is going through a tough time, dentists are following all safety norms necessary to avoid their patients from getting infected in any case. Pregnant women and their unborn children are more prone to such infections. Make sure you discuss your condition with your dentists so that he/she can make special arrangements for you.

The whole chamber must be sanitized first along with all tools and equipment. This whole process takes around 1-2 hours. In the case of a pregnant woman as a patient, a good dentist takes additional safety measures to avoid risking the life of a woman and her baby.

Even after your baby arrives, make sure you don’t leave your continuity of visiting your dentist. It is necessary even after you deliver your baby as maintaining optimal dental health is your responsibility for which you need to see your dentist at least biannually.  Find out the best and most reputable dentist near you and schedule your visits. Maintaining your oral health is important not only for you but also for your baby no matter you are pregnant or you have delivered your baby. Your pregnancy cannot be an excuse for comprising your oral hygiene. 

Tested Tips On Prepping For And Getting Through Your Child To The Dental Visit

Taking kids to the dentist for their next appointment is a daunting task, but it is necessary to maintain and promote excellent oral health and hygiene. For a child, visiting a dentist is not less than a nightmare as different scary instruments, unfamiliar places and weird objects and noises can rattle even the calmest of kids. Moreover, with age and time, your child’s dental structure keeps growing and his/her teeth continue to fall out which may require frequent trips to the dentist. If you know a good pediatrician in McKinney, then you don’t need to worry about handling your kid as they know how to deal with the kids and get them ready for the treatment.

If you choose pediatric dentistry McKinney, in which professionals perform every dental treatment, they will guide you a few steps to ease future visits for your child to the dentist. You must follow the below steps so that your child feels comfortable, confident, and relaxed while visiting the dentist for the next time.

Choose Professional Treatment Only: This is the most important tip to make dental treatment for your kid easy by choosing only professionals. A practitioner who is specialized in treating kids and adolescents may bring additional experience to the table. They are experts at handling fearful patients. Moreover, pediatric dentists design their offices to be kid-friendly. They know the tactics of how to help them calm their nerves.

Start Dental Visits In Early Age: As soon as your child’s first tooth appears, you should start visiting the dentist as it is a great way to reduce anxiety among children. Moreover, they will get used to it before they start facing problems like cavities and others. This will help your child get into the routine of seeing a dentist while he’s still young. It also helps in developing good oral habits cutting his chances of needing extensive dental treatment.

Keep It Simple: When you are preparing your child for a visit especially for the first tie, do not share too many details with them. If you would do so they will keep asking you questions, digging deep to know more about the treatment process which may cause unnecessary anxiety. Always keep a positive attitude while taking your child to the dentist. Never give them false hope. Avoid saying that everything will be fine as your child might lose confidence because he might have to face something bad.

Make Your Child Feel Comfortable: Get a little bit closer to your child or hold his hand during the checkup can give a big comfort to your kid.

Don’t do too much talking: Though it is necessary to calm down your kid through continuous chit-chats in hopes of distracting your child, don't do that.  Let the staff handle them in their own way and introduce the treatment in their own vocabulary.  Let the dentist do the talking as it will help him develop a better relationship with your child.  

Always choose the same dentist: If you are taking your child or dental treatment, make sure you take them to the same dentist every time.  If your kid has been seeing the same doctor since his childhood, he will not hesitate to open us and let the dentist do the checkup calmly. He will develop trust in the dentist with time and this will reduce your struggle of taking your child to the pro for routine checkups. Kids feel uneasy around new people and the same is the case with the dentist. Seeing the same hygienist may boost his confidence and build a sense of trust, making him feel more relaxed.

Choosing a pediatric dentist who is dedicated to the oral health of children and qualified to take care of your child’s teeth should be the best to consider. Pediatric dentists provide wide-ranging oral health care that includes the following:

·         Infant oral health exams, which include a risk assessment.

·         Preventive dental care consists of cleaning and fluoride treatments, along with nutrition and diet recommendations.

·         Habit counseling such as the use of pacifier and thumb sucking.

·         Orthodontics treatment like early assessment and treatment for teeth straightening and correcting an improper bite.

·         Repairing tooth decays, cavities, or defects.

·         Diagnosis of oral conditions connected to diseases like diabetes, asthma, hay fever, congenital heart defect, and attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder.

·         Taking care of gum diseases and conditions including ulcers, pediatric periodontal disease, short frenulum, and mucoceles.

·         Taking care of dental injuries such as fractured, displaced, or knocked-out teeth.

You may find several experts performing pediatric dentistry in McKinney, but make sure you choose a reputable and experienced dentist who has specialization in the same. Since every child is different, a good pediatric dentist knows the right approach to deal with the child.  They have a wide range of tactics to help a child complete his needed dental treatment. The dental expert makes a recommendation on behavioral regulation tactics for the child depending on health history, dental needs, special health care needs, type of treatment needed, emotional and intellectual development, the consequences of no treatment, and parental predilections.

Best Practices to Obtain a Good Oral Health

Obtaining good oral health needs good oral care for a lifetime. If you think brushing your teeth once a day is enough to keep your teeth healthy, you are wrong. Even brushing your teeth two times a day is also not enough. It needs more care.

In this blog, we have compiled the best practices that you should perform every day to keep your oral health healthy. Here are those:

Tips For Brushing Teeth

Brush Your Teeth Twice a Day- Every time dentists MacKinney TX suggest brushing your teeth twice a day, but hardly 10 percent of people follow their advice. The rest don’t take it seriously. A dentist only can advise you for your good oral health. He/she cannot force you to follow his/her advice. It’s all upon you. If you love your white and brightening teeth, then you must brush your teeth twice a day. It will keep your teeth brightening. The best times to brush your teeth are after waking up from bed in the morning and before going to bed at night. 

When You Brush, Don’t Rush- Generally, people consider “brushing teeth” a boring daily routine. Therefore, they complete this activity within a few seconds and without properly brushing their teeth. This is not useful for keeping oral health in good condition. You need to take at least 2-3 minutes to brush your teeth. This is an ideal timespan for brushing teeth. 

Don’t Forget to Clean Your Tongue- A dirty tongue is the biggest reason for bad breathing and mouth odor. Plaque and bacteria in the tongue promote bad breathing and mouth odor. If you want to keep these things away from your oral health, don’t forget to properly clean your tongue when you brush your teeth. You can use either a tongue-cleaning tool or toothbrush to clean your tongue. 

Use a Fluoride Toothpaste- When it comes to toothpaste, wisely select the best quality toothpaste. No matter what brand you prefer in toothpaste, just make sure whichever toothpaste you buy contains fluoride. This is the main element that fights against bacterias, germs, and keeps your teeth protected from tooth decay and infections. 

Use A Soft-Bristled Toothbrush- Soft-bristled toothbrushes are ideal for brushing teeth. Unlike the hard-bristled toothbrushes, they do not harm your gums. So, you should choose this type of toothbrush for you. If you want something better than soft-bristled toothbrushes, then battery-operated toothbrushes are for you. They are very effective to remove bacteria and plaque from your mouth. 

Don’t Brush Teeth Immediately After Eating- Don’t brush your teeth immediately after eating, especially when you eat acidic food. The combination of acid and base can harm your teeth. So, take 15-20 minutes to break after eating, then brush your teeth. It is good for your oral health.   

Replace Your Brush Every Three Months- Toothbrushes can get damaged after a certain period. Therefore, you should replace your toothbrush every three months. If you do not replace it, the hard and damaged bristles of your toothbrush can harm your gums. 

Flossing Tips

Do Flossing Regularly- Flossing is the most neglected part of oral care while it should be treated as important as brushing. Flossing is a process of removing the small particles of foods that are stuck between your teeth. It is done through a floss. It should be done at least once a day. 

Be Gentle While Flossing- Floss is a thread that can harm your gums while removing food particles from teeth. So, whenever you do flossing, be gentle so that your gums cannot be harmed.

Look For Alternative- Flossing can be a difficult job for you. If you face difficulties while flossing, you should look for alternatives such as a dental pick, tiny brushes that reach between teeth, pre-threaded flosser, a water flosser, or wooden or silicone wedge plaque remover.

Teeth Whitening Tips 

Do Not Eat Too Much Junk Food- The modern generation loves to eat junk food. It is not bad when you eat it once a week. But, it is bad when you eat it too much. Junk food contains a significant amount of harmful substances that affect your oral health as well as overall health. It is one of the main reasons for paled and stained teeth. So, make sure you avoid eating junk food. 

Eat Fresh Vegetables and Fruits- Fresh veggies and fruits are very healthy. They are vitamin-rich. You should eat fruits and veggies regularly. It will keep both your oral health and overall health in an optimal condition. 

Avoid Eating Tobacco and Chemical-Contained Edible- Everyone knows that tobacco and chemical containing edibles are harmful to health, but still people consume them. Maybe they consume them because they are addicted. If you want to keep your oral health in a good condition, you will have to avoid consuming these edibles otherwise they will affect your oral health very badly. They pose several oral illnesses such as paled and stained teeth, tooth decay, gum diseases, bad breathing, and infections. 

Use Mouthwash- Mouthwash is the best thing you can do several times a day without any difficulty. You just need to put a significant amount of liquid of mouth freshener or mouthwash in your mouth and gargle for a few seconds. This will keep your teeth brightening. 

Take Teeth Whitening Treatments- If your teeth are paled and stained, then you should take teeth whitening treatment. Tray bleaching and whitening stripes are the two best teeth whitening treatments. You can take any of these. The treatment period will be more than three months. After that, you will see the difference in your teeth. 

Top Must-Do Teeth Brushing Tips For a Good Oral Health

Good oral health is a must to live a healthy lifestyle but we often do not prioritize it, unlike our other body parts. This is absolute injustice with oral health. Let us ask you a few questions. How often do you replace your toothbrush or what was the last time you replaced your toothbrush? It may be too long ago, right! Well, another question for you is- How often do you brush your teeth in a day? Of course, the answer is “one time in the morning” by the majority, right! One more question for you- How often do you clean your tongue? Well, you don’t need to answer because we know the facts. 

According to the databases of dentists in McKinney TX, a huge number of dental patients, more than half of the dental patients do not clean their tongue nicely. Some of them do not even clean it once a day. So, people are very careless about brushing teeth, giving time to properly cleaning the tongue, and overall oral health. This causes an occurrence of a number of different oral health problems such as gum bleeding, bad breath, yellow & stained teeth, cavity, infections, sensitivity, etc. Therefore, it is very important to take care of dental hygiene. 

In this detailed note, we have compiled top must-do brushing tips for maintaining dental hygiene and overall good oral health. By following the below-mentioned tips, you can live a healthy life and enhance the charming beauty of your smile. 

Tips For Brushing Teeth 

The teeth brushing tips we shared in this piece of dental information may seem very common things but when it comes to applying it into daily routine, very few people do it properly. Therefore, as a professional dental assistant, it is our duty to regularly aware you about your oral health, and we are doing the same through this piece of dental information. Make sure you not only read these tips but apply these to your daily routine. This will benefit you, not us. 

Brush Your Teeth Twice A Day

Every dental specialist and dentists in Mckinney TX suggest this to every dental patient but very few people follow this point. The reason could be that people do not want to be bothered brushing again & again a day. According to the dental patients we treat, this is the biggest reason they avoid brushing twice a day. Well, we don’t think brushing is a boring or bothering activity. It is a must-do activity and you must not be bothered brushing your teeth twice a day. It hardly takes 3-5 minutes to nicely brush and clean your teeth. So, you should brush your teeth twice a day. 

Furthermore, if you eat too much oily, spicy, and strong foods like non-veg and fast foods then you should brush your teeth after eating these foods. It is a must-do thing more than anything because some grain and particles of food are stuck between your teeth and stay too long. This causes tooth decay, infections, bad breath, teeth worms, and yellow & stained teeth. So, make sure you always brush your teeth after eating too much spicy and oily foods otherwise you can be in huge trouble in the near future. 

Tongue Cleaning 

Brushing your teeth does not mean brushing your teeth only. It is about cleaning your teeth, cleaning your tongue, and removing all the food particles from teeth and gums. That means brushing your teeth means caring overall oral health. Tongue hygiene does not get as much attention as teeth cleaning. People often forget to clean their tongues when brushing while tongue cleaning is equally important. You can either use a tongue cleaning tool or your brush to properly clean your tongue. Dentists in McKinney TX highly recommend you maintain your tongue hygiene all day otherwise you will have to face bad and smelly breathing. It will not only build you up to disturb other people around you. So, whenever you brush your teeth, don’t forget to clean your tongue nicely. 

Use Mouthwash or Mouth Freshener 

You clean your teeth twice a day in the morning and evening but you eat all day. You eat so many different spicy & oily dishes, fast foods, snacks, drinks, and sugar-rich items and some particles of these foods stay in your mouth all day. Sometimes, this causes food-flavor breath or smelly breath. This thing can lead you down among a few people when talking. Therefore, using mouthwash or mouth freshener repeatedly a day is a good option to maintain your oral hygiene and keep your surroundings full of fragrance. There are so many different brands’ mouthwashes and mouth fresheners are available in the market. Don’t choose any of them without consulting with dentists in McKinney TX. Make sure you consult first with a dentist and then buy a mouthwash and mouth freshener for maintaining your oral health.

Replace Your Toothbrush Every 3 Months  

At the starting of this piece of information, you were asked- how often do you replace your toothbrush? What is your answer? You probably replace your toothbrush every 6 months. Well! According to modern dentistry, a person should replace his/her toothbrush every three months because the toothbrush loses its effectiveness after three months. Also, they get rough and damaged that can cause gum injuries, gum bleeding, and lips injuries. Apart from this, fungus and bacteria can occur on your brushes after a certain period, and obviously, that is not good for your oral health. So, make sure you do not use a single brush for more than three months as it will be harmful to your oral health. 

These are top must-do teeth brushing tips. You should apply these all tips into your daily routine. These will help you keep your oral health in good condition.