ORAL health is an important part of our overall healthWith certain tweaks to our regular diet we can manage oral health wellHere are expert tips on how to manage oral hygiene on our own at home
One thought that must be troubling many of us amid Covid-19 pandemic, is that of a sudden and unexpected sickness. And what if somebody suffers from pain in any body part, especially the tooth? One shudders to think of a scenario where a person confined to home has unbearable pain and no access to doctor or medicines.
While in the current lockdown situation, such experiences will be more or less inevitable, at the same time, there are many regular do’s and don’ts that could make a huge difference. Let us start with the best and easy thing to do, that is drinking plenty of water and keeping oneself hydrated. As a preventive measure, we could avoid or reduce intake of ‘white food’ like white bread, maida, and sugar. It is better to have more salads and fruits instead.
Since you are at home, there is a tendency to keep munching the whole day. Be aware of what you are eating and keep a tab on the quantity. Brushing twice a day is mandatory but since you will be eating in between meals. Keep a tooth brush handy and lightly brush after every meal too remove residual food immediately. Remember to floss at least once a day before bed time. You can use a mouth wash or rinse with warm saline water morning and night. Take care not to use your teeth to open a bottle or hair pin as the tooth might fracture. Massage gums after brushing with a clean finger for two minutes as this improves blood circulation.
Remember to clean your tongue in the morning and night with a tongue cleaner which is easily available in medical stores. This will reduce bacteria build up and thereby prevent bad breath. Never use a tooth pick or pin to remove food stuck in between teeth as you could end up harming your gums and causing an infection. Rather try to remove it by brushing and flossing.
This is the best time to reinforce good habits among children who should be taught correct dietary and oral hygiene measures. Since they are completely under parental watch during these days, you could make a diet chart of the food they consume. This gives you an idea of their sugar intake. Keep a brush handy and help them with brushing so that they get the technique right. Showing them engaging videos of right brushing techniques would work best for them. It is better to avoid stocking chocolates and sticky candies in the house and encourage them to make a note of how many candies they eat.
Elderly people should be careful and avoid eating hard nuts so that they don’t break any tooth or hurting a loose tooth, if any. They must avoid using tooth pick or pins to remove food. Also, brushing twice a day and rinsing with warm saline water after every meal should be a part of their routine. A gentle massage with mustard oil and salt on gums will help in case it is swollen. If they use dentures handle them with care especially while cleaning so that it doesn’t fall and break. If there is pain on wearing denture, it is okay to remove it and let the gums rest for few hours. They can keep denture clean by brushing after meals.
Given their food habits and experimental taste buds, the youngsters these days must try to stick to healthy foods. Young people can follow good oral hygiene by brushing twice and rinsing after every meal. This is a good time to give up on the habit of smoking. This is also a good time to cleanse the body by drinking plenty of water and avoiding aerated drinks completely. The fast food like pizza and cheese puffs are better avoided but if you have to eat it, then due care must be followed as the hot cheese might burn your palate. One habit that is very common is to open bottles with teeth and it could prove disastrous if gone wrong.