Children’s Dental Health During COVID - Dr. Jessica Temple

Many of us may have experienced this before…an annoying, nagging pain that wakes us in the middle of the night and just won’t stop? No, I’m not talking about a toothache, I’m referring to our children likely asking us for yet another snack. We as parents are now expected to be teachers, caregivers, nutritionists, psychologists, housekeepers and now dentists! In today’s world, a routine trip to the dental office is something we do not have the luxury of experiencing. The high rate of aerosols distributing respiratory droplets into the air poses a health concern for the spread of COVID-19, therefore, it is best to limit the exposure during this time. I hope to clarify how to best care for your children’s teeth to prevent problems and how to deal with them if they arise.

The best way to avoid difficulties with our teeth is to prevent them. This has always been our practise philosophy and holds true now more than ever. Here are some tips to keep your family’s teeth in top shape for your next check-up. Remember that we are our children’s teachers – it is our role to model healthy habits.

1. Daily oral hygiene - we cannot stress enough the importance of daily flossing and brushing with fluoridated toothpaste (if your child doesn’t swallow it) – and don’t forget to wash your hands!
2. Diet control - the constant snacking poses a health concern to the developing teeth. When your children ask for the next snack, consider foods that are lower in carbohydrates and sugar - such as crunchy fruits and vegetables that also help to stimulate saliva flow. And focus on ones that are high in calcium such as cheese and yogurt to help with mineralization. It is best to avoid beverages high in sugar and acid, and limit sticky or sweet foods that can get stuck in the grooves in our teeth for long periods of time. Equally as important to what we eat is how often we eat it, so limit the frequency of sugar/carbohydrate intake.  ​

The Royal of College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario has limited us to treating only true dental emergencies until the state of emergency in the province has been lifted. Therefore, it is important to identify which situations are emergencies, and which can be managed best from home. 

Dental Concerns that are NOT emergencies:

1. Broken teeth, lost fillings or untreated cavities – in the absence of pain, these are best handled by keeping the area clean from food debris and avoid hot, cold or sweets if they contribute to sensitivity.
2. Pain or sensitivity to biting, sweets or changes in temperature – these may be best managed with over the counter pain medications like dental desensitizers or Advil/Tylenol until it is safe for an examination to determine the cause of the symptoms.
3. Delay of baby tooth falling out with simultaneous eruption of adult tooth – encourage your child to eat hard and crunchy foods to help the baby tooth to fall out. This may require intervention when the office is open in the future.
4. Orthodontics – Prevention is key! Avoid hard/sticky foods and chewing gum to help prevent dislodging brackets and breaking wires. Oral hygiene is particularly important to remove accumulation of plaque around brackets that contributes to decalcification and decay. 

Dental Concerns that are emergencies:

1. Trauma –A traumatic injury that may need intervention is one that can cause a tooth to fracture or become dislodged, loose or displaced. If an adult tooth is lost, store it in milk or saliva and contact us ASAP. Recommendations will depend on the severity, age and stage of development. 
2. Infection that is causing swelling.
3. Uncontrolled bleeding.
4. Pain that is not controlled by over-the-counter pain medications.

Please contact us so that we can provide advice based on your specific symptoms and dental history.
The goal is to prevent problems from arising and to manage mild conditions from home until it is safe to treat them. Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have questions and require advice, we are always here for you! You are doing a fantastic job with your children and please don’t forget to take care of yourselves (and your teeth 😊)! 
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We hope to see you all again very soon,
Jessica Temple