College is an exciting time, but can be a super busy time, too. With navigating through different classes and trying to balance a social life, it can be easy to slip up on oral hygiene practices. However, it’s important to prioritize staying on top of your regular dental check-ups and your oral care at home.
Tackling harmful bacteria by regular brushing and flossing is one of the key steps to keeping your teeth and gums healthy. When food debris and bacteria build up on your teeth and gums, this creates dental plaque and calculus, which is one of the main causes of tooth decay, gum disease, and a whole list of other oral issues. Gum disease can progress overtime to a more serious form, known as periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is characterized by bleeding gums, loss of the tooth’s bone support, and can cause issues beyond even the oral cavity. For instance, periodontal disease has been linked to several systemic problems including cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, respiratory disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and much more.
Easy steps you can do while away at college include:
- Brush your teeth twice a day for at least two minutes each time.
- Floss daily to remove food particles from in-between your teeth.
- Use a fluoride toothpaste and mouth rinse to protect against tooth decay.
- Switch out your toothbrush for a new one every 3-4 months or after having a cold.
- Avoid habits such as sharing your toothbrush, nail biting, using your teeth as tools, smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption.
- It can be easy to snack, especially when studying. Make sure to choose healthy tooth-friendly snacks like fruit, crunchy vegetables, string cheese and cheese slices, low-fat yogurt and fruit, and nuts just to name a few.
If you experience a dental emergency while at college, such as a chipped tooth, don’t panic. If you’re bleeding, rinse your mouth with warm water and apply pressure to the area of concern. Call your dental professional as soon as you can. If experiencing pain, you can take an over-the-counter pain reliever like ibuprofen. If your tooth completely comes out of the socket, immediately call your dental professional, as the time to replant the tooth is critical. Avoid touching the root of the tooth, rinse it off with water, and place the tooth in milk when transporting.
Depending on your age and parent’s insurance, you may still be included on their dental insurance. If you are not, there are still many affordable dental plan options that can match with your budget.
Take care of yourself, keep your dental hygiene in check, and have fun in school!
This pandemic has impacted us all, but our community is indeed all stronger together. Our team at WDG always has your safety and health as our top priority, and we have implemented additional safety measures and equipment to help prevent the transmission of all infections, including COVID-19. Wellesley Dental Group has completely reopened since June 8th, 2020 for all dental procedures and cleanings! Thank you for entrusting your health and dental care to us at Wellesley Dental Group.
Feel free to contact Drs. Ali & Ali and the caring team at Wellesley Dental Group if you have any thoughts or concerns; they will be happy to answer your questions! Contact us today at 781-237-9071 or smile@wellesleydentalgroup.com to set up an appointment.
Your little ones and teens are welcome to visit our pediatric dentist, Dr. Bahar Houshman and Dr. Marisa Reason is happy to help with your TMJ and orthodontic needs. For wisdom teeth extractions or any other oral surgery needs, Dr. Reisman would love to help, and our gum-specialist Dr. Singh can help with your gum-related concerns.
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