Dental Hygiene in Calgary: Dental Health Checklist to Follow During the COVID-19 Pandemic

When your tooth enamel decays, a tiny hole starts to form in your tooth. These holes are better known as cavities.

Did you know that 96% of Canadian adults have had cavities in their lifetime? Even though this is a high number, the good news is it's not too hard to prevent tooth decay.

Northland Village Dental Center is dedicated to helping maintain your dental hygiene in Calgary. To better assist you on how to take care of your teeth during this global pandemic, please read the following checklist:

Working on Your Dental Hygiene in Calgary

First and foremost, you need to brush your teeth at least two times a day. If you can, brush them either before or one hour after every meal. This proactive step will prevent your food from weakening enamel. Flossing is just as important as brushing your teeth. In fact, you should be flossing your teeth before brushing them so that the fluoride from your toothpaste can reach the places that may have previously been blocked by food. It also helps to remove plaque. Most people do not floss regularly, and that's equivalent to not brushing in between your teeth. The bacteria that sits between your teeth can cause interproximal cavities, which requires you to get two fillings instead of one. To go the extra mile and clean the spaces of your mouth you can't reach with a toothbrush and floss, use mouthwash. Purchasing a mouthwash with fluoride will do a better job of preventing cavities. Last but not least, don't forget to brush your tongue too! Not doing so can result in halitosis—commonly referred to as "bad breath." You can use your toothbrush, or even a spoon, to scrape off the bacteria that live there.

Cleaning Devices

Oral devices need regular cleaning. When germs start to build up in these devices, they can easily move to your teeth. Throw away your toothbrush or toothbrush head, depending on what kind of toothbrush you own, every three to four months. Between that time, you can clean your toothbrush with .5% hydrogen peroxide. Leave it submerged for about fifteen minutes and then rinse it off afterward. Take care of those retainers, dentures, and crowns so they last a while. Cleaning them every day or at least once a week will save your teeth in the long run.

Diet & Lifestyle

Although it might be tempting to indulge in all your favourite vices, especially if you are stressed out, it's still important to take care of your dental health during COVID-19. However, there are a few things you need to stay away from to protect your teeth from decay. The most predominant one is sugar, which doesn't just pertain to desserts. Alcoholic drinks and simple carbohydrates both contain this sweet substance, so be careful not to consume too much of it. And if you do, brush your teeth afterward to prevent it from breaking down your enamel. Tobacco, cigarettes, and drugs also play a role in your oral health. Try to stay away from these substances as best as you can. They can do a lot of damage to your mouth, far beyond the average enamel decay. Drinking water has many benefits, but did you know that you can protect your teeth from cavities? This is because water lacks sugar, and because some water has fluoride in it. Small traces of this compound work to rebuild enamel, while keeping your body hydrated.

Need to Get Your Teeth Checked?

Biannual preventative care check-ups will help catch tooth decay or any other changes in your teeth. Consider booking an appointment at Northland Village Dental Center. Our dentists are happy to help you improve your dental hygiene in Calgary and keep those pearly whites healthy for years to come.