The Covid-19 has shaken the whole world. Every country is facing a prolonged lockdown phase to avoid coronavirus outbreaks. Due to the locked-down, many businesses, institutions, and places are closed. All events have been canceled. Even a part of medical treatment has been temporarily suspended to avoid COVID-19 spread among patients. Dental treatment has been halted since the lockdown was announced.
Thus, many patients who need to visit dental clinics to maintain their mouth health are facing problems. However, anyone facing a dental emergency can visit the hospital emergency ward to get the needed treatment.
But when it comes to maintaining mouth health, you need to care about it regularly. Otherwise, you will soon face many dental issues like plaque, gingivitis, gum sore, gum swelling, mouth odor, and toothache.
So, people who have minor gum issues or no issues at all should take care of their mouth health to avoid any dental emergency during this lockdown phase nationwide.
Here are some tips that you can follow to maintain mouth health at home.
1. Don’t share your dental kit with others
We all know that sharing our toothbrushes is a big no-no. But do you know that you shouldn’t share toothpaste with the other members of your family? Even sharing the same toothbrush holder and mouthwash glass can give you the infection during this time.
Above all, you should make a habit of sterilizing the toothbrush head, tongue cleaner, and the holder you put all the kit in. Keep the brushes, mouthwash glass, toothpaste, and tongue cleaner separate for every family member to avoid breeding micro pathogens and tooth issues.
2. Create a new routine of dental care
For dental help isn’t easily available during this lockdown, you need to be extra careful about your mouth health.
To ensure good dental health, you need to create a routine for your dental care.
Here you go:
You may have to follow four steps of teeth cleaning – flossing, Interdental brushing, brushing, and cleaning the mouth with mouthwash. Kids should avoid the Interdental part of their dental cleaning process. You can also use an electric toothbrush for better cleaning.
3. Avoid dental emergencies as much as possible
Try to protect your kids or baby who has just learned to walk from falling. Because this might cause emergencies like a broken tooth, chipped tooth, or knocked-out tooth.
Also, ask your kids to avoid sticky and hard lollipops and gum to avoid dental emergencies.
4. Relieve wisdom tooth pain at home
Wisdom tooth pain can bother you anytime. Thus, you need to know how to relieve wisdom tooth pain by staying at home.
Swish the warm salt water multiple times to relieve the pain. This rinse can also help you avoid infection in the wisdom tooth. If the pain is still there along with the swelling, you can use a cold compress to relieve the discomfort. If the pain persists, you can take a regular pain killer like paracetamol to relieve the pain.
If all these tricks don’t work, then you may have to visit the hospital emergency.
5. Learn how to relieve toothaches at home
If you have kids or other members who have toothache during this time, then you can follow some remedies that relieve toothaches like.
- Swishing warm saltwater
Ask the person who has a toothache to swish the warm saltwater repeatedly.
- Use peppermint oil or clove oil
You can use peppermint oil directly to the affected area to relieve the pain.
- Rinse your mouth with hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide can help to kill the bacteria causing the pain. You can use it to rinse the mouth, however, don’t forget to rinse the mouth with plain water after using the hydrogen peroxide.
- Clean the affected area
Make sure there is no food debris stuck in the affected area. To remove the food particles, you can use floss or an interdental brush.
- Use pain killers and antibiotics advised by your Doctor
If the pain is severe, you should call your dentist to know about the medication. Your doctor can prescribe you a pain killer or antibiotics to cure the infection, if any.
6. Learn how to relieve facial swelling
Gum swelling is a sign of gum infection due to the food particles in the gum pocket. For gum swelling, you need to clean the in-between area of two teeth using an Interdental brush. If the space is narrow, use floss to clean. You can use mouthwash and other remedies like a cold compress and icing to treat the sealing.
However, if gum swelling increases and leads to facial swelling along with, neck and eye area, then don’t ignore the condition. Call your doctor and seek treatment. Your dentist can ask you for a photograph of the affected area. The dentist can also suggest potential medicines over the phone.
7. Maintaining the general teeth cleaning ritual is important
- You need to be very particular about oral hygiene at this time.
- Don’t miss brushing twice a day.
- If you have gum pockets, then you may have to brush after taking each meal.
- Make sure there is no plaque. This plaque causes tartar and finally gingivitis and cavities.
- Make sure you brush for 2-3 minutes in a gentle motion.
- You need to limit sweet and acidic food, especially sugar. You can replace the sugar with jaggery.
- Make sure you use fluoride toothpaste and antiseptic mouthwash.
- Don’t forget to drink plenty of water.
- Swish your mouth with plain water as much as possible to remove any food particles from your gum.
Lastly, you should remember that the dental clinics are closed due to the COVID-19 spread, But all the hospitals are open. So, if there are any dental or mouth injuries, don’t ignore it. Visit your nearest hospital emergency ward for treatment. Because ignoring dental emergencies can cause permanent tooth loss or other deep scars.
In many areas, Govt. Has arranged free dental treatment for underprivileged people as well. So, keep all the information about dental treatments available in your local area to get the treatment properly. Also, keep your dentist’s phone number handy so that you can call the dentist and when required for the treatment.