Due to COVID-19, many dental offices, including ours, have been closed to everything but emergency dental cases. As things are slowly opening back up, dental offices are able to follow suit. But what happens if you had an appointment that was canceled over the pandemic closure? Dr. Heather Adams, a dentist in Rogers, AR, offers some assistance.
Make Sure Your Appointment is Rescheduled
A canceled appointment isn’t an excuse to just skip it. Even if it isn’t considered an immediate dental emergency, something like a dental cleaning is still essential for your oral health. We may have already reached out to you to get your appointment rescheduled. If not, call us or use our online scheduling tool.
Keep Up an Oral Healthcare Routine at Home
Especially if you’re missing a cleaning, you want to make sure you’re keeping up with your oral health at home. We know it can be challenging to remember the little things when our routines have been upended. Things you consider smaller may have fallen by the wayside. However, if you want to avoid tooth decay and needing dental fillings, making sure you brush and floss twice a day is essential.
Try setting an alarm on your phone in the mornings and evenings. This can at least make sure that you’re getting that two a day in. It can also help remind others in your household. It also doesn’t hurt if you’re brushing more often. If it helps you to remember, brush your teeth after every meal. It also ensures that food particles are out of your smile quickly.
Watch What You’re Consuming
Your diet can impact your oral health more than you may realize. It’s been difficult to get all of the foods we would normally eat. Grocery stores have been struggling to keep certain things in stock on the shelves. Supply chains are being impacted heavily by the pandemic. However, there are some simple things you can do with your diet to benefit your oral health.
First, avoid consuming a lot of sugar. Sugar is one of the worst things for your teeth. Harmful oral bacteria use sugar as a primary food source. They then emit an acidic byproduct that eats through the enamel on your teeth. This leads to problems with tooth decay, which can lead to the need for a root canal or tooth extraction if left untreated. The more sugar you eat, the more this byproduct is being released in your mouth.
Also, make sure you’re drinking water as your primary beverage. It doesn’t contain hidden sugars or additives like other drinks might. If you’re drinking tap water, there’s also a good chance it’s fortified with fluoride to strengthen your tooth enamel. Even if it isn’t, it’s still the best choice to keep your mouth hydrated and help rinse away sugars and food particles from your smile.
Your Dentist in Rogers, Arkansas
We’re ready to see all of our patients’ beautiful smiles and ensure that they’re going to stay beautiful for years to come. Call us or schedule an appointment online!