How to have a healthy smile during this pandemic?

It feels like just yesterday that the world was entrenched with lockdown and people were bustling the streets with last-minute hoarding tactics and mind-numbing panic. While the coronavirus continues to run its coarse across the globe, we are now witnessing the complete integration of a ‘new normal’ in our society. As dentists scramble to reopen their dental offices, there have been surprising reports of a drastic uprise in cases involving dental injuries and mishaps, mostly as a direct ripple effect of the pandemic. Experts have gone so far as to say that we might just be in the midst of a Dental Armageddon with steadily increasing cases of dental injuries crowding emergency units every day.

Pandemic-induced stress has been seemingly taking a major toll on our mental and physical health and has also wreaked havoc on our dental wellbeing. Dental offices have not been shy of being some of the most popular hotspots for cross-contamination due to the nature of many dental procedures that involve the use of aerosols, suspended in the air with human secretions and microbes for hours on end. Here are some notable tips to help you get through the pandemic with impeccable oral health!

Bad breath

One of the most unexpected consequences of the pandemic has been the menacing condition of halitosis. Due to the regulations surrounding surgical masks in public, people have been discovering that their breath isn’t quite as fresh as usual. Bad breath can be caused by a multitude of different culprits such as bad oral hygiene and relentless smoking. According to Know Your Teeth, approximately 80 million people suffer from chronic halitosis or bad breath!

A new study published by the International Journal of Dental Hygiene found that, on average, people who suffered from bad breath were twice as unhappy as those who didn’t, critically affecting the quality of one’s life. If you have been battling this troublesome condition, there may be a few things you can do to turn your breath minty-fresh!

Avoid tobacco products: Tobacco can adversely affect your oral health by damaging your gums, staining your teeth, and causing bad breath. It is best to avoid this detrimental habit in exchange for a fresh breath.
Prevent your mouth from drying out!: Saliva functions not only as a lubricant but also as a buffering agent that washes away food particles and keeps odor under control. If you aren’t producing adequate saliva, drink lots of water, or try sugarless chewing gum!
Brush and floss: The American Dental Association confirms that brushing and flossing your teeth regularly can significantly lower your chances of gum disease and subsequently bad breath!
Don’t forget to scrape your tongue: Bacteria don’t just settle for your teeth- they can also deposit on other surfaces of your mouth including the tongue. Use a tongue brush or scraper to clean your tongue and to get rid of stinky breath!

Stress

The global pandemic has created a rather hostile environment and public health actions such as social distancing have made people feel isolated, dejected, and lonely. As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describes, this pandemic has the capability to trigger “strong emotions in adults and children”. Pandemic-induced stress and anxiety have shown to cause fear and worry about one’s own health, the health of one’s loved ones, or financial situation, changes in sleep or eating patterns, difficulty sleeping or concentrating, worsening of existing chronic health and mental problems, and increased use of tobacco, recreational drugs, or alcohol.

The stress associated with the outbreak and its uncertainty can hamper your state of being but the CDC informs that there are some healthy ways you can cope with this stress:

Know what to do if you do, in fact, get sick. Contact a health professional before starting a self-treatment for COVID-19.
Know where and how to get treatment and other support services such as counseling and therapy, either in-clinic or through telehealth services.
Take care of your emotional health in order to think clearly and react to your urgent needs.
Unwind and take breaks to do what you love to draw your attention from constantly reading about news stories relating to the pandemic.
Taking care of your body is crucial to winning the fight against emotional turmoil. Exercise regularly, meditate, eat healthy and well-balanced meals, and get plenty of sleep.
Connect with your family and friends to talk to someone you trust about your concerns.
Focus on things you can control and steer clear of misinformation and overstimulation. Taking a break from social media can be a good idea.

Bruxism and cracked teeth

As frantic calls to mental health hotlines continue to skyrocket, the pandemic may also have given rise to a different dental issue- bruxism. Bruxism is the overactive gnashing, grinding, and clenching of your teeth and jaws usually caused involuntarily due to stress and anxiety. Sleep bruxism is a common denominator of stress and reports suggest that the pandemic has given rise to a huge anomaly in the system. More and more people are reporting pain in their jaws, teeth sensitivity, migraines, and even cracked teeth. Insider reports that a hefty number of people have reported these symptoms during the pandemic and following soon after it.

One of the most effective ways of dealing with the renewed issue of teeth grinding and cracking is by addressing the underlying stress that could have caused it in the first place. Stress and anxiety can often factor in and cause problems with your mental as well as dental well-being. You can also allow yourself to invest in a mouthguard to wear at night to prevent your teeth from uncontrollably grinding and risking chipping your teeth.

Sleeplessness and sleep bruxism

If you are in a state of panic and worry, you may find yourself skipping bedtime more times than not. Sleeplessness can often accompany a terrifying encounter and the pandemic has brought to light many of these emotions. In fact, a recent American Psychiatric Association poll unearthed that more than one-third of Americans think the coronavirus crisis has seriously affected their psychological well-being. An even higher number report of having dealt with issues of insomnia, forgetfulness, and difficulty focusing as a result of the outbreak.

When you are stressed and restless, you may be tempted to try sleeping pills or aids to get a good night’s sleep. However, medication fails to address the underlying cause of your sleeping problems, most commonly stress, and can make your insomnia worse. Here are some easy and healthy ways to tackle your stress and make it easier for you to sleep:

Practice a relaxation technique such as a breathing exercise to lure you to sleep.
Do not turn a blind eye to your worries. Deal with them in the day time to be able to sleep well during the night time.
Get active during the day with regular exercise. Not only will it help tire you out and knock you out to sleep but it will also ease your stress.
Design a strict bedtime routine. Sleep hygiene plays a pivotal role in helping you achieve sound sleep. Stick to a schedule and create a relaxing nightly routine.

The pandemic has visibly taken a toll on the mental health of many individuals directly or indirectly affected. As life begins to resume, it is important for you to stay on top of all the minor inconveniences before they become massive problems. It is time to bite the bullet and combat the cruel effects of the outbreak on your physical and mental well-being.