We know that 2020 has been difficult for a lot of us. With the pandemic striking the nation and lots of people locked inside, finding dental care can be difficult. Luckily, lots of dental offices have been accepting emergency appointments throughout, and many others are beginning the slow, cautious process of opening their offices back up (including us!). Still, if you’re stuck inside with kids who are not in school (or are out on summer break at this point), it may be hard to stick to a good dental routine for yourself or even to get your kids to stay on point. We’ve got some good tips to help.

#1 Always ensure, at the very least, you are brushing your teeth twice a day

If you can’t manage to get up and do other things for your dental health, at the very least, opt to brush your teeth after you wake up (so you can get rid of your overnight breath) and before bed (so bacteria is not sitting in your teeth all night while you sleep). This is the barest of minimums you should be employing towards good dental hygiene. If you have difficulty remembering to brush your teeth in the morning, try coupling it with a shower — bring your toothbrush into the shower with you. When you’re going to bed, if you take medications at night, brush your teeth after taking them. This will help you to remember. You can also set alarms on your phone or with your digital assistant.

#2 Flossing & Waterpiking can help keep bad breath at bay

Have you ever gone a stretch of time where you’ve only brushed your teeth, but you’ve noticed a funky taste in your mouth? If it’s been a while since you flossed, it’s possible, and very likely, that there’s actually food stuck between your teeth rotting away! Ew! While waterpiking can help you in a pinch, the only way you can really make sure you got everything between your teeth is to floss. Flossing should be done daily, but if you can’t keep up with a daily flossing routine (please try!), at least flossing a few times a week will be better than nothing.

#3 Make it fun

The best way to get your kids on board with dental hygiene is to do it with them. Make a fun routine out of it, and brush your teeth when your kids are. We know they probably go to bed a little earlier than you do, but are you planning to snack down hard on food after they go to bed? Probably not. Why not brush your teeth with them?

#4 Set a routine

If you’re brushing and flossing at different times of the day every day, it can be hard to develop a routine. Your body gets used to doing things at certain times, so the more often you can do it at the same time, the more you’ll feel like you’re “forgetting something” when you don’t do it. Have your smartphone or digital assistant remind you at the same time every day. 

#5 Cut back on the sugar

A lot of us are doing a lot of lifting right now… Lifting gummy bears to our mouths! It can be hard being stuck on the couch binging Netflix and finding something that’s good for your teeth as a snack. Remember that sugar can really wreak havoc on your teeth — especially if it sits on the enamel — so brushing your teeth after highly sugary items like candy and soda can help wash away some enamel-destroying sugars. Still, choosing a better snack like popcorn, or even better yet, vegetables like carrots or celery can help you avoid too much sugar altogether.

#6 Are you really hungry?

Did you know that the majority of hunger pains are actually thirst? Instead of grabbing a box of Oreos, try drinking a glass of water and see if your hunger pains subside. Sometimes our brains mistakenly think thirst is hunger, and you can avoid eating things that really hit that sweet tooth spot by having a drink first.

We’re hoping to see you soon for your six month cleaning!

How are you coping with your dental health routine while in quarantine? Let us know in the comments!