There is no doubt that the coronavirus pandemic has changed life for a while, in more ways than we can count. While we will certainly get through this and come out stronger on the other side (we always have, after all), there are a lot of things that we need to adjust to. On the advice of the CDC, the American Dental Association, and the American Association of Orthodontics, our offices are temporarily closed. However, that doesn’t mean that your smile simply has to fall by the wayside during this time. There are still ways to keep your smile as healthy as possible in the face of this current situation.
Don’t Fall Back On Hygiene
In the face of stress, often self-care is one of the things that can fall by the wayside. However, in order to protect your smile, it is imperative to continue your regular hygiene routine. That means flossing daily, brushing multiple times per day and avoiding high amounts of foods that are problematic for your teeth. This is true for everyone, but especially if you are in the middle of an orthodontic treatment, like braces, do your best to stick to your food list. This way we can stay on track for the treatment to be completed.
Make Minor Fixes At Home
Orthodontics hardware naturally requires some maintenance over time. While our offices are closed, minor fixes can be made or alleviated at home using orthodontic wax. For minor issues like a broken brace or wire, this solution should suffice. If your supply of wax is running low, you should be able to purchase some online, and some pharmacies will carry it in-store as well. For minor issues, we will be ready to fix them as soon as we are able to reopen our office and provide service.
Follow All Instructions
Depending on what stage of the orthodontics process you are in, you probably have instructions from your orthodontist, whether it be regarding elastics, a retainer, or an expander. Be sure to follow the instructions provided at your last appointment. In the case of elastics, continue to use as instructed as the risk of overcorrection is minor. If you run out of elastics, please don’t substitute with any other elastics! These are not designed for orthodontics use, and their differing force may cause more problems than not. Following the guidelines as close as you are able will ensure that your smile stays on track to look and feel amazing when the pandemic has passed.
These tips will help keep your smile in tip-top shape while the pandemic is occurring and should keep you able to handle any minor issues. If pain, discomfort, or bleeding becomes more than minor, please seek out medical attention to ensure that you receive any needed care. We look forward to treating you again as soon as our offices are open!
