While a lot of dental offices have begun reopening in Ohio, there are still some people who are considered at risk and should stay home. They may be feeling sick themselves or find themselves possibly exposed to COVID-19 from another family member or may have underlying conditions that may make going to the dentist unfeasible right now.
Still, taking care of your body is a top priority, and brushing your teeth is something that you should continue to do even if you are sick, otherwise you risk even more long-term complications down the road. It may seem like it’s something easy to forget, especially if you find yourself bed-ridden or are constantly caring for another family member.
If you’re not feeling well, you should not go to the dentist. But you need to take care of your teeth. Here’s how to do home dental care in this time of Covid-19.
The area that you really want to focus on here is the bathroom sink. This does not mean that you should neglect everything else in the area, but it’s a very good idea to zero in on things like your toothbrush or other people’s toothbrushes. Make sure that they are clean. Wash them immediately if you cough or sneeze and forget to cover your mouth. COVID-19 hasn’t eliminated colds or the flu virus, after all, and they can stay on wet surfaces for up to 72 hours.
If you’ve had a cold or the flu, you probably won’t have to replace your toothbrush since your immune system should be back up to par when you’ve fully recovered. If you were sick with Coronavirus 19, given that it’s still not fully understood whether one is not capable of getting it again, it’s best to replace that toothbrush to be on the safe side. They can easily be ordered on sites and delivery can be as fast as the next day.
One thing that can help people get through having a bad cough are cough drops. It’s best to get the sugar-free ones, since there are ones that have sugar and that can start eating away at the enamel of your teeth and thus possibly cause a cavity. You might as well be having a hard candy, otherwise.
This is something that often happens when getting sick. Your body is rebelling against the virus and it often manifests by trying purge it via vomiting. It’s not pretty, but it’s a reality. Do not immediately brush your teeth after that. Why not? There are acids from your stomach that are on your teeth. If you brush, that is being rubbed against the teeth and can wear down enamel.
Instead, you want to get that acid out of your mouth. Get a cup of water and swish it in your mouth and spit it out. That will remove any residue… and then you should wait 30 minutes or so to brush your teeth. It will be safe by then.
This is an important one no matter what type of illness you have. It’s easy to get dehydrated, especially if you’re doing a lot of what was mentioned in the above category. You don’t want to get dry mouth from all this, including as a side effect from certain medications. That makes it a big breeding ground for bacteria and that can also wind up causing infections in your gums. That’s dangerous if you have an already compromised immune system from your illness.
Water is the best source of hydration, but energy drinks can also replenish electrolytes that have been lost. There are a lot of ones out there that do not have sugar in them and can help you get back on the path of recovery. If you want to have something warm, like tea, try to avoid adding sugar or a lemon, since both can damage your teeth.
It can be hard to remember to do things like this when you’re feeling sick, but you’ll find that you will come out of this feeling stronger from an oral health standpoint as well as a physical one. Of course, if you have a dental emergency, do not hesitate to call your dentist.
The staff at US Dental Medical know how difficult it can be to stay on top of their oral health. They will be glad to answer any questions about how you can best take care of your teeth in these times. You can call them at 614-252-3181 to make an appointment.
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US Dental and Medical Care
949 E Livingston Ave,
Columbus, OH 43205
Phone: (614) 252-3181
Website: https://usdentalmedical.com