How to keep on top of your oral hygiene when your normal routine doesn’t exist?

This is not easy for adults and children alike. It is not only during these unprecedented times in which we all find ourselves that we experience this but also school holidays or any break from our usual day to day.

The key to maintaining all the hard work you have put in up to now is to keep some structure to your morning and evening, even if the timings are different from usual you will find that by doing this you still include key oral hygiene practices. Continuing these routines will help to prevent any unwanted problems from occurring. We’ve put together a list to remind you of what you really need to focus on.

Key steps to maintaining good oral hygiene

1. 1. Brush twice a day every day using a fluoride toothpaste. Keep an eye on your technique making sure you avoid ‘scrubbing’ our teeth don’t need spring cleaning techniques! Gently brush towards the gum in a circular motion.

1. 1. Make sure you keep up with cleaning in between each of the teeth whether you use floss or TePe brushes, it needs to be done everyday even if you forget what day of the week it actually is! Plaque builds up between the teeth even more than on the smooth outer surfaces so you must keep this up! Soon it will become habit and you won’t notice the short amount of extra time it takes.

1. 1. When you finish brushing, spit the toothpaste into the sink but DO NOT RINSE! Rinsing will remove all the protective fluoride which you have just spent two minutes brushing onto the teeth.

1. If you have children you can find their concept of two minutes varies hugely from the clock! We recommend a timer to keep them brushing for the right amount of time. You can also check out https://colgatetwominutetales.co.uk for two minute story films your child can use as a timer, they are engaging, fun and also available in sign language which we think is fantastic.

Some other key issues we wanted to highlight is diet and lifestyle. Being at home most of the day can mean the temptation to snack (especially on sugary treats) is ever present and with Easter fast approaching this won’t be getting any easier! We’re talking from personal experience!

Self-Isolation diet tips

1. 1. Limit all sugary and acidic foods as much as possible, if you are going to be enjoying some sweet Easter treats, try to eat them all at the same time as your meal rather than snacking on small amounts throughout the day. Remember any drink that is not plain water or milk will contain sugar even those stating ‘no added sugar’.

1. 1. Make sure you are drinking plenty of water to stay properly hydrated, this is crucial for your general health as well as your oral health.

1. 1. Keep healthy snacks ready to hand in the fridge, convenience plays a big role! Raw vegetables ready chopped in the fridge, cheese and crackers or breadsticks ready to go will help you steer clear of the biscuits and chocolate.

1. People with large fillings, temporary fillings and crowns or those with orthodontic appliances should be extra careful when eating hard foods such as nuts, chocolate, sweets and crusty bread as they are common causes of breakages.

We hope you have found the advice useful, don’t forget we are still here for you! Any questions or queries you can now contact your own St. James dentist directly! Keep up the good work, we’re looking forward to welcoming you all back to St. James as soon as we are able.