Dental Concerns? Here's What Can You Do During This Time of Social Distancing

Written by Dr.Michelle Soares-McCarthy

With the current & ever-changing global crisis resulting from novel coronavirus (Covid-19) we have been instructed to:

Stay and work from home if possible
Avoid public spaces and stay at least 6 feet away from others if you must leave home eg. for food or medication
Wash your hands often with soap & water/or alcohol-based hand rub
Cough or sneeze into your elbow or a clean tissue
Regularly disinfect high touch areas eg. doorknobs, phones

Do you have any questions about your mouth?

Talk to your Dentist or Dental-Care Provider. We're here for you.

Do's and Don'ts at home

Eat Healthy Food

Increased worries often means increased poor food choices.

Avoid the urge to binge on overly salty, high calorie, low nutrition foods.
Avoid sugary, sticky foods and drinks that stick to teeth & can cause cavities

Don't Rush Your Brush

Brush your teeth and your tongue with a soft toothbrush & toothpaste, 2-3 minutes, 2x/daily
Floss between teeth & under gums every day
Easily make your own…

Toothpaste: mix 1 teaspoon baking soda + few drops warm water (enough to absorb baking soda) + 1 drop of peppermint essential oil (+ 1 pinch salt, optional)
Mouth rinse: 1/2 teaspoon table salt (or 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar) + 1 cup warm water - rinse for 30 seconds after meals or tooth brushing
Sore throat remedy: mix equal amounts of hydrogen peroxide (or 1/2 teaspoon table salt or povidone iodine) and warm water-rinse for 30 seconds, 2-3x/daily, do not swallow

Make your own toothpaste:

If you must be away from home and cannot brush your teeth:

Eat crunchy snacks such as celery & carrots or chew sugarless gum with Xylitol for 3 minutes to help clean teeth.
Eat cheese to help increase saliva as well as coat and protect teeth from harmful bacteria

Drink Lots of Water

Certain medications can make your mouth feel dry (eg. for high blood pressure, allergies, cough & cold) *. A chronic dry mouth is more at risk for cavities.

Always:

Drink lots of warm water to help clean your mouth and help reduce your risk for tooth decay

*Always speak to your Dentist or Family Doctor before changing or stopping any medication.

Relieve an Ulcer

Many mouth ulcers eg. canker sores may heal without treatment *.

Until then:

Avoid acidic, citrus, or spicy tasting foods & drinks eg. lemon, orange juice, salsa
Use over the counter (OTC) pain relieving medication such as Acetaminophen (Tylenol), Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) including, Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), Naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn) and/or use pain relieving, numbing gels (eg. Orajel, Anbesol)

*Always contact your Dentist if ulcer remains or worsens in 2 weeks.

Ease Mouth Pain

Mild tooth sensitivity (eg. worn enamel) or mouth pain (eg. cheek or lip biting), may be treated symptomatically at home* by:

Sucking ice chips/pops or applying cold packs to the area where appropriate
Applying clove oil onto a cotton swab and wiping the area to help reduce inflammation and pain
Using pain relievers, numbing gels (see “Relieve an Ulcer”)
Applying a pea-sized amount of anti-sensitivity toothpaste (eg. Sensodyne Rapid Relief, Colgate Sensitive Pro- Relief) to a clean finger and rub gently onto sensitive tooth after brushing and flossing – leave for at least 1 minute before eating or drinking, best before bed**

*Any new or worse toothache or tooth sensitivity should be discussed with your Dentist.

**Not suitable for tooth decay, contact your Dentist

Reduce Creaking or Clicking Sounds in Jaw

Home treatment for tooth grinding jaw sounds or pain include:

Reduce stress (eg. listen to music, warm bath or exercise)
Don't use electronic gadgets before or in bed.
Don't drink soda, alcohol, or caffeine before bed
Put warm towel or pack on sore muscles,
No hard or dense foods (eg. nuts, steak),
No persistent gum chewing or resting on jaw
Drink plenty of water

Discuss with your Dentist if symptoms remain or worsen

DON'T

DO

Ease Denture Pain

Denture wearers or clients with braces may have mouth pain from loose or sharp edges from denture, brackets or arch wires. Minor mouth sores may not warrant a visit to the dental office especially with social distancing guidelines.

What you can do at home:

Use OTC denture adhesive to reduce denture movement in the mouth
Remove denture nightly, clean and put in denture container with water or mouthwash
Remove denture to clean both your mouth & denture after every meal
Do not eat citrus, spicy, salty or hard crunchy foods
Eat soft cooked, easy to swallow healthy meals eg. cooked vegetables, pasta, soup, yogurt
Rinse you mouth with a glass of warm water mixed with 1/2 teaspoon table salt after meals
Apply numbing mouth cremes (eg. Orabase Paste) to sore after meals
Orthodontic brackets and wires can be covered with soft wax until you can see your dental professional – do not attempt to cut or adjust brackets or wires at home
Take OTC pain relievers (eg. Acetaminophen, NSAID)

Always contact your Dentist or Dental-Care Provider if symptoms do not improve or worsen in 7-10 days

Use A Good Toothbrush

Worn toothbrush heads can't safely clean teeth and gums.

Always change your brush if bristles are worn.
Always replace your toothbrush if you have had a recent cold or flu
Store your toothbrush head where it doesn't touch another used toothbrush
Never share your toothbrushes, soft cloth can be used to wipe teeth & gums, consider for young children and elderly
Store your toothbrushes in a clean disinfected area close to where you will use & away from open toilets.