It’s been weeks since I shook a new patient’s hand or high fived a little one who just had their first cleaning. When every day feels like the last I find myself thinking about how strange it is to be still. Especially when my usual day-to-day meant rushing from appointment to appointment, checking on patients, finishing charts and everything in between.
With quarantine transforming our lives, many routines have changed while others remain the same. Some daily tasks are easily expendable (so long, commuter trains); some are missed (see you again soon, restaurants), and some are adaptable for the current climate (keeping movie nights alive with Netflix Party).
But beneath the surface, I’m seeing so much chatter about productivity in the midst of a pandemic. A bajillion tips for staying active and productive, a million more crying out for a slower lifestyle and better self care. It’s exhausting and confusing. I for one, do not plan on penning the next, great American novel nor will I emerge from my home with 8 pack abs. It’s just enough to get myself and the kids dressed everyday while keeping the train on the tracks with business.
Believe me when I say, “I get it.” It’s easy to let a couple things slip between forced isolation, the stress of work-from-home, always together family life and a less than stellar news outlook. I mean, c’mon are you all really showering every. single. day? Chances are, probably not.
But as a dentist I’m bound by a not-so-secret doctor code to say this...your mouth really matters – especially right now. Neglecting just a couple key personal hygiene habits will have consequences that last a lot longer than social distancing does. So I’ll give it to you straight, here’s a couple oral care tips for quarantine:
1. Not All Toothbrushes Are Created Equal - The type of toothbrush you use right now is key. Ideally, you put a toothbrush inside your mouth at least twice a day. But the average toothbrush contains 10 million bacteria and viruses or more—including E. coli and Staph Aureus. Look for an anti-bacterial AND an anti-microbial toothbrush with soft bristles to help prevent the spread of germs and bacteria. The soft bristles are better for you as they help alleviate gum recession and/or enamel erosion. Our very own LINHART Toothbrush is actually infused with nano-silver particles, killing 99% of harmful bacteria, preventing the microbial (viral) proliferation that plagues ordinary toothbrushes.
2. Combating Mask Breath - Believe us mask breath is a thing. A clean mouth not only helps keep bad breath at bay, but is vital to preventing the spread of viruses and bacteria to the digestive and respiratory systems. Your mouth is the body's main immuno-gatekeeper and just like soap and water disrupts and kills microbes on your hands, brushing your teeth twice a day does the same for your mouth– it stops the spread of bacteria and helps us all keep our masks on.
3. Order Your Routine the Right Way – Imagine washing your hair in the wrong order. You apply a leave-in conditioner, rinse it out and then lather and clean with shampoo. Seems ridiculous right? The same goes for your mouth. It’s important to clean and wash the gunk and plaque away first with flossing and mouthwash then later “condition” your teeth with the good stuff in toothpaste. Flossing pulls the plaque buildup from the tighter sections of your mouth, mouthwash pushes it out of your mouth with a quick rinse and then with brushing (without rinsing after) you condition by allowing the fluoride of the toothpaste to linger on your teeth and strengthen the enamel.
4. Floss Like A Boss - Flossing can get a bad rap. But now is the best time to revamp some solid daily habits at home. Our dental hygienist, Marie, who's been with our team for over 25 years, actually taught me all of the secrets of flossing like a pro including:
Wrap the floss around your middle fingers and leave your index fingers free to guide the floss
Make it taut
As you move around the mouth, unroll one side and roll the other so you get a fresh piece of floss between each set of teeth
5. Don't try DIY dentistry - especially right now. We realize there’s an almost irresistible urge to do something that seems expedient, inexpensive and innocuous, such as simply moving your teeth into alignment. However with most medical and dental DIY schemes, the consequences of improper treatment can quickly become disastrous and perhaps dangerous. Do your research and hang tight before investing in the trendy at-home aligners (you know the ones you see in your Instagram feeds). These kits are often a marketing ploy as tooth movement should only be performed by a licensed dentist or orthodontist.
6. Quarantine won’t last forever, but neither will your enamel. While often compared to bone as the hardest substance in your body, the difference between enamel and bones is that one contains living tissue which can regrow - the other does not. Which is why when your enamel is gone, it's gone forever. Treat your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste to properly strengthen your enamel while preventing cavities. Our very own LINHART Toothpaste contains fluoride PLUS two extra cavity fighters: Theobromine & Xylitol- both of which are specifically designed to re-mineralize your enamel while also keeping your smile feeling fresh.