How To Maintain A Healthy Smile In Lockdown
It is super tempting to overindulge over this time. We have more time at home, within walking distance to a fridge 24 hours a day.
Not to mention being surrounded by delicious baked treats lovingly made by the kids.
Here are some easy tips to help you maintain a healthy and pain free smile during lockdown.
Sugar Treats
Hide them!
If they are on the kitchen table, you are more likely to be tempted to snack on them.
Baking is a great way of passing time in lockdown, but remember the quantity you are baking.
Once you have made it someone has to eat it all!
Try halving the recipe, so you still enjoy gorgeous home baking without having too many leftovers to snack on.
Currently your teeth are more susceptible to permanent damage not only by the choice of food you are consuming but also the frequency at which you eat it.
When you do have them, do so with a meal as this will damage your teeth less.
Moderate Alcohol
Alcoholic drinks are full of sugar and very acidic and if sipped over a long period of time, say over a sunny weekend BBQ, they erode and wear your enamel away.
If the enamel thins, your teeth become sensitive, weak and look more yellow with time.
Drinking alcohol with food, such as cheese, hummus and breads – this will help neutralise the acid in your mouth.
Sipping water after alcohol will hydrate you and rinse and dilute any acid in the mouth.
Try and have alcohol free days, this is not only good from your smile but your overall health.
Feeling Peckish?
50% of the sugars we consume come from our snacks and drinks, so by being mindful of what we snack on significantly reduces the risk of rotting teeth, diabetes and obesity.
I personally do not believe in ‘snacks’, they are not satisfying, and you often end up eating or grazing more over the day.
I prefer having mini meals, leftovers from dinner are great, a small bowl of pasta or rice.
So is the humble cheese on toast, beans on toast.
Crackers with cheese, bread sticks with hummus.
If you are craving something sweet, have it with one of the suggestions above.
Fruits are not great snacks for teeth.
The snack should have <5% sugar (<5g per 100g) and be satisfying.
Including a vegetable, or some protein if possible, to make it more nutritious and satisfying.
The Best Drink In The World!
I have never been able to drink five glasses a day, let alone 2 litres!
I am in awe of anyone who can! Saying that water is the best thing to have between meals.
Our brain often confuse thirst with hunger.
Next time you are craving a sugary snack have a glass of water.
Sipping water through the day keeps our energy levels high, aids digestion, our mouths clean and even improves our mood.
Definitely a good thing in lockdown!
The Basics
It sounds simple but most people do not do it.
The evidence is strong, the facts common knowledge but lack of routine, being tired or sheer laziness are the usual suspects for not complying.
Here is a challenge, pick one of the things below and get the rest of the family to do it too.
Just one from the list below. It’s as easy as that!
- Brush for 2minutes 2 x day (using a timer is mandatory!) with a fluoride toothpaste
- Spit but do not rinse after brushing
- Clean between your teeth once a day, with floss or an interdental brush
- Only drink water between meals
- Make snacks between meals sugar free
Have A Dental Problem?
Don’t despair!
Call your dentist!
If you have not been to the dentist in a while, don’t worry. Just call the last dentist you remember visiting.
As we have access to our patients x-rays and medical records, we can give better advice and if required we are able to remotely prescribe antibiotics or painkillers directly to your local pharmacy for you to collect.
We can provide lots of advice and help to our registered patients over the phone and online.
While dental practices are currently not allowed to see patients face to face, they are still there for you, just like GP’s we are working in a different way.
