The COVID-19 virus has created confusion and concern not only in our community here in the Illinois valley but worldwide. Social distancing in situations like these saves lives. To do our part, at A Lifetime of Smiles dental office in LaSalle, IL we closed our offices for elective services and routine cleanings during “shelter in place” and until further notice, only treating patients for emergency care.
In times like these it’s important to revisit good oral hygiene as a great preventative defense against dental issues, good habits you should be practicing for overall and dental health but also as a way to mitigate issues while you wait for your next dental appointment.
Healthy Diet
For your overall health as much as dental health, it’s important to have a well-balanced diet of fruits, vegetables and lean meats and/or good plant-based sources of protein while minimizing processed foods and drinks high in sugar. The health of our teeth can be a reflection of our overall health so be sure to make healthy food choices.
Good Oral Hygiene
Practicing good oral hygiene is often the best measure you can take in preventing common dental issues like tooth decay, cavities, tooth discoloration, and other issues that can worsen overtime if neglected and lead to more serious issue that require dental procedures such as fillings, crowns, bridges, root canals, and tooth extraction. Good oral hygiene is especially effective in combination with a healthy diet and regular dental checkups as part of a holistic dental care approach. 3 things that should be a part of your daily oral hygiene regimen:
- Brushing your teeth twice daily
- Flossing at least once per day
- Rinsing with an antiseptic mouthwash daily
It’s important to do our part with things like social distancing to help stop the spread of infectious outbreaks even if that means postponing elective procedures and routine dental checkups in the short-term. If we all do our part and stay calm, things will return to normal and we can get back to providing you and your family the best dental care in the Illinois Valley. Stay safe and we look forward to seeing you soon at our LaSalle Dental Office.