Hope that you are all very well and enjoying some of the beautiful sunshine we have had. Just a brief reading material to let you know you are in our thoughts. Some of you have reached out to us with dental concerns. As always, we will do our best to assist you during this difficult time and look forward to seeing you at the office as soon as we are back. Meanwhile please do not hesitate to contact us with any concerns. On Thursday, we had a Zoom social with colleagues at the SDG. Everyone is doing well except for missing you and each other. Also, regretfully, there is one sad broken finger (a casualty of a home improvement project) which we let you figure out who’s it is when are all back at the office.
Below I am going to present the text from a useful pamphlet from the American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID). As many of you know, I am a Fellow of the AAID and was supposed to be in Chicago this past week as an examiner for Associate Fellow and Fellow level credential candidate doctors. Needless to say, these examinations have been delayed and I am at home. However, I have and will continue to conduct Zoom meetings with the groups of doctors who I mentor at our surgical study club to review and discuss their cases. I am also still staying involved with the RCMSAR Search and Rescue. Also, Dr. Jin and I both have been taking many online education courses ourselves to stay ahead.
I hope you find the information from AAID which I have modified for your review useful:
As you stay home and help curb the spread of COVID-19, you are adjusting to new life routines. On a long list of changes, one is avoiding non-urgent doctor visits — and that includes your dentist. While oral hygiene may not be on top of your mind right now, a healthy immune system is critical during a pandemic and your mouth is a gateway for viruses and bacteria to enter your body. Keeping your mouth in tip-top shape frees your immune system to fight off other sicknesses as needed. To ensure you maintain a healthy smile while you stay home, the AAID has put together The Ultimate Guide to Dental Care During COVID- 19 which I have modified so you can brush up on the basics and learn some additional precautions to take during this pandemic:
1. Properly clean your teeth, tongue, and gums
One of the best ways to keep your mouth in good shape is maintaining a good oral hygiene routine. Following these simple steps can help you maintain a healthy smile and prevent problems:
- Brush your teeth twice a day — when you wake up, before going to sleep or after every meal
- Floss your teeth at least once every day
- Gently brush your tongue to prevent plaque build-up
- Switch to an electric toothbrush if possible
- Gargle with a mouth rinse to kill bacteria and remove plaque, if needing more help or not able to brush immediately.
2. Watch what you eat
Have you ever had a popcorn kernel stuck in your gum? Or hurt your tooth from chewing a hard candy? These would be unfortunate scenarios during the shelter in place, so think twice before eating something that may get easily stuck in your teeth. You should stock up on nutritious foods. Your teeth especially benefit from leafy greens as they are rich in fibre and vitamins and items that are high in calcium and protein such as low-sugar yoghurt. Try to limit your consumption of sweets and acidic beverages as they can cause tooth decay.
3. Stay hydrated
Good hydration is an essential part of oral health. Drink plenty of water to help strengthen your enamel. It helps rinse away harmful bacteria and acid and may ease dry mouth, which can cause gum disease and tooth decay. Stay away from repeated or prolonged consumption of drinks with carbohydrates (milk, cream, sugar, milk powder, juices, sodas, etc.).
4. Resist bad stress habits
Everyone manages stress in different ways and certain coping mechanisms like smoking or drinking alcohol excessively can be harmful. Smoking increases your risk for gum infections, and drinking alcohol dries out cheeks and gums. Additionally, chewing pen caps or fingernails can cause teeth to chip or break. Be extra thoughtful about how you choose to relieve stress to avoid a potential emergency.
5. Freshen your toothbrush
Toothbrushes can potentially harbour bacteria and viruses. Before and after use, rinse the bristles under warm water and let it dry standing upright without touching the heads of other toothbrushes. If you are concerned about the cleanliness of your toothbrush or if you have just been sick, you can disinfect it by soaking it in 1% hydrogen peroxide (1 part store-bought 3% hydrogen peroxide and 2 parts water) for 30 seconds or you can replace it.
6. Keep over-the-counter pain relievers on hand
In case a toothache or swollen gums develop, it’s always a good idea to be prepared with over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen to temporarily ease symptoms while you wait to hear from your dentist.
7. Text or call us
If you do experience a dental problem or emergency, Call us at Saidi Dental Group. We will make every effort to help you.
Keeping your mouth healthy is incredibly important — and there’s an additional level of care to follow if you’re a candidate for dental implants or routine dental care.
Very soon, once we resume our normal activities, we look forward to assisting with your needed dental care. To expedite, we will look at the entire picture of your health to ensure the dental implant procedure or your general dentistry will be a success. Here are 5 good habits to build right now:
- Brush your teeth twice daily for a full two minutes each time.
- Floss at least once a day. If there is enough space between your teeth, an interdental brush is recommended.
- Soft-picks can also be used when the space between the teeth is smaller but it does not replace flossing.
- Switch to an electric toothbrush if possible.
- Use antibacterial mouthwash for more assistance if needed. This helps prevent bacteria from growing and reduce any inflammatory reaction in the mouth.
- Commit to stop smoking or chewing tobacco to prepare for the procedure.
We miss you and hope for your best health and happiness. Take care.
Dr. Masoud Saidi, Dr. Janet Jin and the Team at Saidi Dental Group