Changing your at-home oral hygiene habits may be able to lower your risk of COVID-19. We know that the coronavirus is transmitted when infected respiratory droplets are dispersed via coughing, sneezing, or sometimes breathing. Since our mouths play a key role in spreading and receiving these infected droplets, it’s essential that we pay extra attention when we clean our smiles. Here are seven at-home dental habits from your Longmeadow dentist that can help keep you and your smile safe from COVID-19.
1.) Wash Your Hands Before Brushing
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other health experts highly recommend regular handwashing to keep yourself safe from germs of all kinds. This is an excellent addition to your dental routine since your hands come in such close contact with your face as you brush and floss your teeth.
2.) Make Oral Hygiene a Family Effort
Everyone needs to do their part in order to keep a household healthy:
- Ensure that children are washing their hands and storing their toothbrushes properly.
- Family members with dentures should wash their hands before removing or replacing them. They should also take the time to disinfect their dental devices every day.
3.) Don’t Share Your Toothbrush or Floss
Someone can be contagious with the coronavirus for several days before showing any symptoms. Sharing a toothbrush or floss is always a bad idea, especially when you don’t know if the other person is sick or not.
4.) Disinfect Your Toothbrush
You can kill off any lingering bacteria in your toothbrush bristles by:
- Swirling the bristles in a cup of water with two teaspoons of baking soda dissolved into it.
- Boiling the toothbrush for five minutes.
5.) Store Your Toothbrush Properly
Bacteria thrive in areas that are dark, damp, and warm. If you keep your toothbrush in a closed space, use a toothbrush cover, or allow it to touch other toothbrushes, it may become a breeding ground for bacteria.
6.) Keep Your Toothbrushing Area Clean
You can keep your surroundings clean as well as your toothbrush by:
- Rinsing off cups or trays that hold toothbrushes or run them through the dishwasher.
- Disinfecting frequently touched surfaces like sink handles, vanities, and countertops.
7.) Replace Your Toothbrush if You Get Sick
You should always throw away your toothbrush once you’ve recovered from any kind of sickness to prevent reinfection. This is especially important if you catch COVID-19, since so little is known about it.
Your oral health can significantly influence your overall wellbeing, especially during the current coronavirus pandemic. Add these habits to your daily dental care routine to keep your smile healthy and lower your risk of COVID-19.
About the Practice
To Dr. Steve Scannell, Dr. Keith Hollinger, and Dr. Julia Reilly, your health and safety is of the utmost importance. To keep you, your loved ones, and the community of Longmeadow, MA safe from the current COVID-19 pandemic, they highly encourage practicing regular handwashing and excellent at-home oral hygiene. They adhere to high standards of sanitation and infection control to ensure their office is as safe as possible for both patients and staff. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact them via their website or at (413) 525-6821.