Do you 'really' need to come for cleaning and check up?
If there was one thing we really, really learned during the pandemic, it was that regular hygiene appointments are a very good way to be proactive about your dental care.
When the pandemic first hit, there were a lot of cancellations - some on the patients' end (don't worry - we TOTALLY understood and still understand if you're hesitant!), and some cancellations on our end (while we were updating our office space to make it safer for all visitors). And with the rise and fall of COVID-19 cases in Ontario, we had a lot of patients still concerned and continually postponing). We've been gradually amping up on hygiene appointments - now that the team has been fully vaccinated (for a while now) and people feel more comfortable to come in. But what do we see?
We see people who used to come in every 3-6 months (depending on their oral health), who haven't come in for over a year and unfortunately, we're seeing more cavities than usual and a lot more build-up - in some cases, we needed to ask patients to come back to finish their hygiene. So are appointments with your hygienist important? We can honestly answer with a resounding "yes!".
If you're feeling safe to come for your dental cleaning, please contact us and we'll arrange a time for you because we are open. If you're not comfortable yet, not a problem - But please, please, please take extra good care of your teeth at home:
Brush for 2 minutes daily - AM and PM. Work to stimulate the gums, as well as to remove any food that is stuck to your teeth.
If you have the option of using an electric toothbrush instead of a manual brush, use it. But please note that it's still going to be for 2 minutes each time you brush!
Replace your toothbrush or electrical brush head every 3 months or after you get sick. New brush heads are more effective at removing food particles.
Floss daily. This is so important to get in between the teeth!
Use a mouthwash to finish - preferably one with no alcohol (which can sometimes dry out your mouth)
Drink more water between meals (to constant 'wash' food debris away from your mouth)
Reduce or eliminate the consumption of sugary foods. We don't need to tell you that the bad cavity-causing bacteria in your mouth LOVE sugar!
If you are using a dental appliance (e.g. night guard or a retainer, etc), remember to keep using it as prescribed by your dentist and to keep it clean of build-up.
If you experience pain or swelling or redness, you may have to overcome your fears about going to the dental office during COVID times. Take a photo of the area if you can and email it to our office and our dentist will let you know if you need to be booked in or not - because dental emergencies can happen and you'd want it addressed asap. If you would like to read more about the extra precautions that our office is currently taking, please have a look at this blog post here.
