COVID-19 hit, and seemingly overnight stay-at-home orders were in effect. While the break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life has led to more quality time and extra snuggles, it also means that your previous routine has gone out the door. However, between face coverings, social distancing guidelines, and extensive hand hygiene, it is important to remember the significance of your child’s oral hygiene routine. To prevent their quarantine activities from turning into fall cavities, here are four tips from a dentist on keeping their teeth and gums healthy at home!
#1. Create a New Oral Hygiene Routine
Previously, you may have planned your child’s brushing and flossing routine around their school schedule. Now that distance learning is a real possibility, it is important to set a new oral hygiene regimen in place to keep their teeth and gums in pristine condition. To help keep you on track and your little one motivated, try using a sticker calendar throughout the week! That way, you can ensure their dental care isn’t being neglected while safely staying at home.
#2. Keep Sugary Snacks Out of Sight
From at-home movie nights and afternoons in your pool escaping from the heat, summer is home to many activities that aren’t complete without a good snack. While indulging in a few of their favorite treats now and again isn’t inherently bad, frequenting reaching for sugary foods and beverages can leave your child’s teeth vulnerable to tooth decay. Therefore, many dentists recommend storing snacks out of sight.
#3. Make Sure to Replace Their Toothbrush
With a jam-packed schedule, it’s easy to completely forget about replacing their toothbrush every three to four months. However, using frayed, old, bacteria-infested bristles will not give their teeth and gums the proper clean they need. So, if you can’t remember the last time you bought them a new toothbrush, then there is no time like the present to do so!
#4. Schedule Their Routine Visit to the Dentist
Although the success of your child’s oral hygiene routine is found in their daily habits, their regular visits to the dentist are equally as important. After all, the tools you have at home are no match for the powerful instruments your dental team has at their office! At your child’s bi-yearly appointment, their dentist can conduct a professional cleaning, thoroughly remove stubborn plaque, and quickly address any warning signs of dental issues like cavities.
To ensure that your child’s post-quarantine smile isn’t filled with cavities, it is important to keep their mouth healthy at home. That way, they can enjoy healthy teeth and gums for years to come!
About the Author
After obtaining her undergraduate degree at the State University in Albany, NY, Dr. Gretchen Anjomi attended the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine for her Doctor of Dental Medicine. Over the past two decades, she has studied at the prestigious Pankey Institute, become a certified Invisalign provider, and become a member of multiple reputable organizations (like the American Dental Association). If you would like to speak with her about keeping your family’s oral health in pristine condition throughout the current pandemic, don’t hesitate to visit her website or give her a call at 617-332-6232.
