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Our Top 8 Self Care Tips to Help You Maintain Your Oral Health at Home

Unless you have a dental emergency, the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO) recommends that dental appointments be postponed to curtail the spread of COVID-19 until further notice. While the Hummingbird Dental team is not currently treating patients in-person at our dental office in Richmond Hill, we are always here to provide our knowledge and expertise to promote your oral health as well as your safety.

Our Best Tips to Help You Maintain Your Oral Health at Home

The team at Hummingbird Dental loves to share best oral health and hygiene practices with our patients. We collaborated to come up with our top 8 tips to keep your teeth, gums and smiles as healthy as possible at home until you’re able to come for an appointment at our office again.

  1. Rinse your mouth and brush your teeth after meals. If possible, rinse your mouth immediately after eating a meal. Next, wait approximately 20 minutes, and preferably brush your teeth with a power toothbrush. If you’re using a manual toothbrush, use one with a small head with soft bristles that will be gentle on your gums.
  2. Brush thoroughly. Yes, we know we told you to brush your teeth already in the first tip, but how long you are brushing is very important. Set a timer for two minutes to ensure you are brushing your teeth thoroughly; this is a great tip for children who ask, “am I done yet?”
  3. Use a fluoride toothpaste when brushing. Toothpastes with fluoride help to harden tooth enamel and reduce the risk of tooth decay, and this is so important for our patients who will need to extend their regular cleaning and checkups.
  4. Floss your teeth daily. Use a slow, gentle motion to navigate between teeth. Make flossing a part of your morning or nightly ritual. Flossing is an excellent way to remove bacteria from your teeth, prevent tartar buildup, freshen breath and much more. We realize we’re heavily biased, but flossing is one of the best self care practices you can do for your teeth at home!
  5. Limit acidic drink consumption, such as soft drinks and fruit juices. Acidic drinks can soften tooth enamel; this can cause cavities in your teeth, and you want to avoid dental emergencies as much as possible. If you had treated yourself with an acidic drink, rinse your teeth immediately.
  6. Limit sugary foods. Think twice before you grab a sugary treat to lift your mood at home because sugar turns into acid (much like acidic drinks). We recommend eating a healthy, balanced diet to make you less susceptible to cavities at this time. However, if you have sugary food, don’t forget to rinse your teeth immediately.
  7. Protect your teeth from injuries. While most sports are not occurring at the present time, think twice if a family member asks to shoot a few pucks at you in the basement or your driveway. Exercise is great (and highly recommended), but be sure to wear a mouthguard or helmet to stay safe.
  8. If you lose a tooth unexpectedly, do your best to save it. This is a dental emergency; in this case, please call an emergency dental office. In addition, please think twice before potentially putting your teeth at risk by using them to crack nuts, rip a package or open a bottle.

 

What do I do if I need to see a dentist?

We’re hopeful that, by following these tips, you will be able to provide oral care for you (and your family) at home until you can come and see us for your next appointment.

However, if you do have a dental emergency, please call (905) 764-5399 to see an emergency dentist in the Greater Toronto Area.

We miss seeing our patients very much, and we hope that you find these tips helpful. We look forward to the opportunity to see you again soon at our office. Please stay safe and be well!

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