Stay Home! Tips to Maintain Good Oral Health at Home

COVID-19 outbreak has spread extensively worldwide since the World Health Organisation (WHO) has officially declared it as a pandemic. Many countries have since then headed into lockdown or movement control period, emphasising on the importance of good hygiene practices, wearing masks when out, social distancing, and staying home.

It is definitely a tough and confusing time for all nations, but we should all do our part to combat the virus outbreak. Besides working from home and spending quality time with your family while practising adequate social distancing, it is important to care for your oral health too.

Home Care for Good Oral Health

Home oral care is important as it helps to lessen the need for extensive or urgent dental intervention. Below are some simple oral health tips to maintain your oral health:

1. Toothbrushing Tips

• Brush teeth and gums at least twice a day, with a minimum of 2 minutes
• Use fluoride toothpaste and a soft toothbrush
• Place toothbrush against the teeth at a 45-degree angle to the gumline
• Brush with a circular motion, keeping the tips of the bristles against the gumline
• Remember to brush the tongue gently to remove bacteria and freshen your breath

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2. Flossing Tips

• Floss your teeth at least once a day to clean food and plaque between the teeth
• Use approximately an elbow length strip of floss from the dispenser
• Wind the floss around your index or middle fingers (according to your preference) of each hand, leaving a 1-inch section open for flossing

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• Move the floss up and down against the tooth, form a c-shape around the tooth as you floss

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• Be careful not to push too had into the gums as this may injure the gums
• Use a clean section of floss by unwinding the unused part around the fingers

3. Denture Care Instructions

• Leave dentures out at night and soak them in water
• Brush the dentures with toothbrush without using toothpaste
• Denture-cleansing solution can be used to keep the dentures clean
• Avoid dropping the dentures as they tend to break easily

     4. Healthy Lifestyle Choices and Balanced Diet

• Eating right by avoiding food high in sugars and starches such as candies, crackers, chips, dried fruits
• Avoid snacking between meals
• Do not use tobacco products such as cigarettes, chewing tobacco, pipes

5. Visit Dentist only for Emergency Treatments

• There is an extremely high risk of droplets transmission of COVID-19 during dental procedures due to generation of aerosol
• Routine dental care should be postponed during this period
• Emergency treatments may include:

Image source: Ministry of Health Malaysia

It is important to practise social distancing during this difficult time to curb COVID-19. At the same time, do take good care of your oral health with these simple and achievable tips. Visit a dentist if there is any oral discomfort or urgent concerns.

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Tags

• Oral Health
• oral hygiene
• stay home