Going to the dentist has always been safe…even during a pandemic. That’s what the American Dental Association is telling the public.
“The fact that dentistry was named one of the most at-risk professions for infection, but has a far lower prevalence of infection compared to other health professions, is not a coincidence, “Mark Vujicic, PhD, chief economist and vice president of the American Dental Association Health Policy Institute, said in a press release. “The profession has taken this issue extremely seriously, and it shows.”
Hersch Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics is doing our part to keep ourselves and our patients healthy. The office is working more efficiently than ever and have changed our appointment template and policies to allow for more time between appointments and to ensure physical distancing of patients.
Don’t Hesitate To Make An Appointment
It’s important not to postpone your child’s checkup during this time. We’re seeing more and more patients with cavities and other forms of oral disease compared to pre-covid days. Many more young children need full mouth dental rehabilitation – which is costly and invasive. So, we can’t stress enough how important it is to get your child in to see us. But in the meantime, here are some ways to ensure your child’s teeth stay healthy until their appointment:
1. Brushing
Brush your child’s teeth twice or three times daily using a soft toothbrush. Gently vibrate the brush in a circular fashion at a 45 degree angle to the gum line. You should also brush your tongue to remove the bacteria that causes bad breath. You can use any soft bristled toothbrush. We also recommend the use of modern electric toothbrushes such as Sonicare and Braun Oral B.
Your child should brush for approximately two minutes to effectively remove plaque that has formed on their teeth. Parents should monitor their child’s brushing until the age of six. Your child’s hygiene will be evaluated at his/her examination and methods of improvement, if any, will be discussed.
2. Flossing
Floss daily to remove plaque between teeth that you can’t reach with regular brushing. Use a fresh section of floss for each tooth until you have flossed the entire mouth. Flossing aids are available to assist children with holding the floss. Remember that most dental cavities start between the teeth and may be preventable by regular flossing habits. It is never too early to start.
3. Rinsing
Always rinse thoroughly with water after brushing (or after meals if you are unable to brush.) You may occasionally use a mouthwash to rinse. Children may benefit from the use of ACT fluoride rinse to help prevent cavities from forming in between the teeth. It is not recommended for children to use alcohol based mouthrinses
Come see in our safer than ever office soon – Make an appointment today!