To slow the spread of the current COVID-19 pandemic, most of the world is in quarantine or self-isolation. Since all non-essential businesses are closed and dental offices are only accepting emergency appointments, it’s more important than ever to keep our teeth healthy and intact. One way to keep your smile safe is to be careful with what you eat. Your Oklahoma City dentist explains what to eat to avoid dental emergencies.
Unsafe Snacks to Avoid
You probably already know that eating too much sugar will give you an uncomfortable cavity. However, that’s not the only dental emergency you have to watch out for when choosing your daily diet. To prevent cracked, chipped, or sensitive teeth, try to avoid:
- Hidden, hard bits of food: Chomping down on a popcorn kernel, fruit pit, or other hard item weakens your enamel and increases your risk of a chipped or cracked tooth.
- Dried fruits and sticky candies: Sticky foods like dried fruits, taffy, caramels, and molasses chews latch onto your teeth as you chew them and can easily dislodge a dental crown or filling.
- Foods that get stuck in your teeth: If a bit of steak or popcorn kernel shell gets stuck between your teeth and gums, it can cause irritation and sores which may become infected.
Smile-Friendly Foods
Thankfully, you can substitute the above unsafe snacks with numerous tasty, smile-friendly ones. Not only will these alternatives help you prevent dental emergencies, but they improve your oral health at the same time! For a healthier, stronger smile, try eating more:
- Fiber-rich vegetables: Chewing vegetables that are high in fiber scrubs away plaque and helps prevent tooth decay. Some examples include cucumbers, celery, and carrots.
- Calcium: To strengthen your enamel, jawbone, and connective tissues that hold your teeth in place, eat more calcium. It can be found in milk, cheese, canned salmon, almonds, and kale.
- Vitamin C: A healthy immune system can help fight off gum disease as well as other infections. Aside from citrus fruits, it can be found in broccoli, cantaloupe, strawberries, and tomatoes.
Healthy Habits to Prevent Dental Emergencies
Although your daily life may look very different than it did at the beginning of the year, it’s important to keep up your regular dental routine. Additionally, health experts report that continuing to follow a regular schedule in the midst of life changes can help keep the mind at ease and retain a sense of normalcy. Brushing your teeth for two minutes twice a day and using dental floss and mouthwash daily is a great way to keep your smile healthy and your life a little more balanced.
Unfortunately, not all dental emergencies can be avoided. If you find yourself with a fractured, abscessed, or knocked-out tooth, don’t hesitate to call your Oklahoma City emergency dentist right away for urgent care. However, snacking safely can go a long way in keeping you and your smile happy and healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
About the Author
Dr. Don Swearingen and his talented team in Oklahoma City have always been and will continue to be committed to the health and safety of our patients and staff. In recognition of Mayor David Holt’s extension of the “Shelter in Place” order through at least April 30th, 2020, we encourage all our patients to practice social distancing and regular hand washing. If you are experiencing a dental emergency, please don’t hesitate to contact us and we will see you as soon as possible. For more information, see our COVID-19 notice on our website or call us at (405) 751-8092.