If you have been staying away from the dentist because of the pandemic, you’re not the only one. Matter of fact, almost half of the people in the United States alone said they delayed their dental appointments in 2020 due to COVID. 

Now that the pandemic has died down in terms of severity, it is important that people get back to taking care of their dental health, and that means going to the dentist every six months-a year. In that time between, however, how do you take care of your teeth to ensure they stay as healthy as possible? After all, your teeth are an integral part of your functioning body as they help you chew and eat. 

Here at Weston Dental Office, we have come up with a guide on how to keep your teeth healthy between dental appointments so you can go about your day knowing you’re taking care of your dental health in the best way you know how.  

How Does Poor Dental Hygiene Come About? 

There are a number of different health conditions that mess with your dental health. Some of the most common ones include: 

• Gum Disease 

When you fail to brush your teeth regularly, gum disease can creep its way into your mouth and come with a lot of negative consequences. Gum inflammation (gingivitis) is usually the first sign that you may have gum disease, so whenever you start to notice tenderness or swelling, get to the dentist right away. 

• Heart Disease 

This one might come as quite a surprise, but heart issues can become a serious problem if any of the bacteria in your teeth gets into your bloodstream. It happens more than you think, and can cause pretty severe infections/diseases with some of them requiring hospitalization.  

• Cavities 

When plaque begins to collect inside of your mouth due to improper dental care, it can begin to shred away the enamel on your teeth. When the enamel starts to get eaten away by bacteria, it creates pits in your teeth, commonly known as cavities. These perforations can be small or large, depending on how long they are left to rot. 

Always Brush Twice a Day 

It’s a tale as old as time — brush twice a day and your teeth will stay healthy. Even with this routine, however, people who are prone to caries can still end up with dental problems. To avoid this, you need to make sure you’re not just brushing twice a day, but that you are brushing properly. This means once in the morning before breakfast, and once before you go to bed at night. Also be sure that you are brushing for approximately two minutes so you can brush every surface, gap and crack that may have potential plaque build up. When you brush without rinsing, you can also leave your teeth with a protective fluoride layer so that when you eat the teeth are less likely to be affected by acidic components. 

Flossing is Crucial 

While some people are born with larger gaps in between their teeth, most people are not. Unfortunately, the closer your teeth are and the smaller/tighter the gaps are, the more likely you are to end up getting cavities and other dental issues. This is because these spaces are much harder to clean, making food easier to get trapped inside these gaps and eat away at your enamel. This is when flossing comes in and becomes an insanely important part of your routine. 

Flossing at least once a day is vital to making sure that you don’t end up with any cavities in between your teeth. These cavities are some of the most common ones we see in patients, and can be avoided when you floss thoroughly. Dental picks and water flossing are both alternatives if you do not enjoy regular flossing or find it troublesome. 

Work With Our Clinic Today 

If you have been struggling with dental issues but have been avoiding the dentist due to pandemic, anxiety or otherwise consider our reliable, caring team here at Weston Dental Office. With years of experience in the field, our dentists work right alongside you and execute safe, professional dental services so you can come out of our clinic with clean, healthy teeth. To learn more about our General Dentistry in Toronto, call our front desk at 416-247-1928 today!