December has arrived, and we understand that you are busy with all of your holiday shopping, activities, events, and parties. We also know that many of our patients are eagerly awaiting the holiday season after having to cancel so many events last December. Although we are excited for the season, it is important to remember that not only is the pandemic still happening, but this is also the time for dealing with other familiar ailments such as the common cold, stomach virus, throat infection, or flu. If you should happen to fall ill, there are certain changes you should be making to help your oral health and help improve your overall health.
Change Your Toothbrush
It is extremely important to replace your toothbrush immediately after you are ill. Bacteria can linger on your toothbrush, and it is possible to reinfect yourself or a loved one if their brush comes in contact with yours. Along the same lines, it is important to be sure that you are always using your own toothbrush and not sharing with anyone, no matter your relation.
Wash Your Hands
After dealing with the pandemic, we are all aware of the importance of washing our hands for a minimum of 20 seconds. Your mouth is the gateway to your body, and it is easy for germs on your hands and fingers to transfer into your body through your mouth. This can easily happen when eating finger foods or any food you touch.
Avoid Touching Your Mouth
Most people have a bad habit of touching their face and mouth, many times completely unaware they are doing it. As mentioned above, germs on your hands can easily transfer into your body through your mouth. This is also an important reason why you should not bite your nails. Aside from the damage it can cause your front teeth, biting your nails is one of the easiest ways for germs to enter your body.
Maintain Oral Hygiene
It is tempting to skip brushing your teeth when you are not feeling well. We encourage you to continue to brush your teeth at least twice a day. This is extremely important to remove the acid from your teeth, especially when you have the stomach virus.
We kindly ask that you reschedule your appointment if you are feeling under the weather. If you are feeling healthy and are concerned about the state of your oral health or it has been longer than six months since your last visit, we encourage you to call our office located in Brunswick, GA to schedule an appointment. We wish you health and wellness during the upcoming holiday season and we hope you have a very happy new year!
