4 Dental Health Recommendations During COVID Pandemic
Dental Health is now more than ever an important step to protect you and your family by taking extra precautions as the number of coronavirus cases increases in the world.
Regardless you are healthy or have the disease, you must keep your dental health as much as possible since it is one of the organs most exposed to the virus.
So, we listed four dental health recommendations to follow at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
1. You must disinfect your toothbrush
In the first place, we are gonna talk about the importance of keeping your toothbrush clean since it can serve as “a vector for transmission of potentially pathogenic organisms” according to The American Society for Microbiology.
A new study discovered that the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) can stay on the surfaces for up to three days, so imagine that you may be brushing your teeth and the virus is still there! So it is very important your toothbrush disinfection before you use it.
For Dental Health you first need to prepare a cleaning solution with the following ingredients:
0.5% hydrogen peroxide (reduces human coronaviruses infectivity in one minute)
or
3% hydrogen peroxide
A glass with 5 fl oz of distilled water
Then follow the next steps:
1. Mix the hydrogen peroxide with the distilled water.
2. Soak your toothbrush in this solution for 10 minutes.
3. Throw the cleaning solution, never use the same again.
4. Rinse the toothbrush with water.
5. Your toothbrush is ready to use it!
And remember, you must replace your toothbrush every three-four months.
2. Clean your toothbrush container
If you think your toothbrush container is one of the cleanest areas in your bathroom, you are wrong because they are commonly sheltered in open areas exposed to environmental viruses, including those from the toilet.
Keep clean your container often than ever, and if you can use a spacious cabinet that does not keep humidity it would be better. Store toothbrushes in an upright position so they can air-dry, and it is very important to keep them apart from each other.
3. Stay home and postpone your non-essential dental appointments
Keeping social distancing is one of the main measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus, so the ADA (American Dental Association) recommends postponing non-emergency dental visits during the next three weeks.
Only in case you have any dental emergency (toothache, gum infection, or continuous bleeding), you must call your dentist immediately and follow your specialist’s instructions.
4. Improve your oral hygiene habits
Good oral hygiene keep yourself healthy, so practicing simple dental hygiene at home is as important as washing your hands and adopting social distancing.
Take care of your oral health correctly: brush and floss your teeth three times a day using hot water preferably.
A healthy mouth decreases the bacteria load on your body, helping your immune system free to fight any virus in the bloodstream.
These hygiene measures include don’t share your food. We know it is difficult, especially when you are living with your family in this quarantine, but remember how important it is to take care of each other.
During this time you may not share any kind of food or drink, and it also includes glasses, straws, cups, cutlery, napkins, and dishes.
No, you neither can share your popcorns during your series marathon, in this case, each person must have their own container.
Remember that it is supplementary information and not a substitute for the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations.
Taking care of yourself and your family will help this pandemic pass quickly.