Taking Care of Your Oral Health While on Quarantine

It’s the second week of the Luzon-wide community quarantine issued by the president of the Philippines. Being at home and having nothing much to do except lie down and stare at your phone, it’s easy to take for granted some of the things you’d normally do when you’re required to go out and meet people—including taking care of your oral health.

Below, we listed down some guidelines to help you maintain the overall wellness of your mouth during this trying time.

1. Keep brushing at least 3x a day—This is easier to do now since you have easier access to the things you need to perform the act. As a rule of thumb, you should brush your teeth, at the very least, on these instances: after waking up, after lunch, before going to bed. You may also do more brushing as you see fit (especially after consuming sugary snacks) but be sure to not overdo it.

2. Keep snacking at a minimum—We understand that the temptation is there, especially since there’s nothing much to do. But remember, you’re not just putting your oral health at risk when you consume too much food; you’re also putting your figure and life on the line. Here’s a neat trick we think helps a lot. Next time you feel the urge to grab that cupcake or bag of chips, drink water first. More often than not, our body confuses boredom with hunger. We find that if you drink water when you’re bored, that would offset the desire to snack.

3. Wear your splint, dentures, and/or retainers—For those whose dentists made them wear oral splints, dentures or retainers, please wear them all the time or as advised. This would ensure that your treatment remains as on track as possible. Also, be sure to keep these fixtures clean by brushing them with toothpaste or soaking them in mouthwash for 2 minutes.

4. Schedule a consultation—Just because everyone’s on quarantine, does not mean you can’t schedule that consultation, most dental practitioners now offer online consultation, which can be scheduled in advance. This allows your doctor to check on how you’re doing without having to meet personally. Most dentists even go beyond their primary responsibility and try to check your respiratory health as well. 

For Beduya Dental, this can be done by contacting 0932-927-6311 or by sending a message to @beduyadental on Facebook or Instagram. 

Times are hard and the best thing everyone can do at this point is stay at home, lessen physical contact with others, and wash your hands. We at Beduya Dental believe that if we all work together, we can beat COVID-19. This situation is but temporary and look forward to seeing you in our clinic again soon.

Oral Care Alternatives: Pantry Products You Can Use to Maintain a Healthy Mouth

Planning a grocery run isn’t as easy as it used to be. Since COVID-19’s global outbreak (and the many quarantines and guidelines released by governments to help contain the virus), getting one’s hands on supplies have become significantly more time-consuming. Where before one can easily walk into a supermarket, now you need to fall in line for about two hours just to get in. Add to that the time you need to allot for check out, and you’re looking at spending half a day for every trip to the grocery.

This is one of the reasons why most of us try to lessen our grocery runs (the other is of course fear of getting the virus).

Understandably, this may cause some to find themselves lacking oral care products in the coming days. It is for this reason that we came up with a list of acceptable alternatives one can easily find in their kitchen. They may not be as efficacious as the ones you normally get, but they should get you through until your next visit to the supermarket.

1. Table salt and water as mouthwash. A saltwater rinse has many benefits, including soothing mouth sores and as a breath freshener. In a study conducted in 2010 among 45 children, those who gargled with a saltwater rinse twice a day for 21 days had significantly reduced levels of mouth bacteria. To create the mixture, simply mix ½ teaspoon of salt to a cup of warm water. Swish around your mouth for 10-12 seconds.

2. Baking soda as toothpaste. Although far from the real thing, baking soda is a mild abrasive as well as a mild bleach and can neutralize cavity-causing acids. These properties along with its antibacterial effects make it a good temporary replacement for toothpaste should you run out of it. Just place a bit of baking soda on your wet toothbrush and brush the same way you do with a toothpaste. A word of precaution—don’t use baking soda for long periods of time as it can erode your teeth’s enamel surface, causing damage to them.

3. Floss as floss. Removing food that’s stuck between your teeth is a very important part in maintaining your oral health. And while others say you can use a piece of string for when you run out of floss, this is just something we can’t get behind. What one needs to remember is that a dental floss is designed to do this job in a hygienic manner, so there is no close substitute for it aside from more advanced options like an interdental brush or a water pick (both options being more expensive).

Keep in mind that the items listed above are only meant to be temporary alternatives for the real thing. We always recommend using products that are formulated to do specific jobs so as to maintain your oral health. If you have questions or want to schedule an online consultation, you may do so by contacting 0932-927-6311 or by sending a message to @beduyadental on Facebook or Instagram.

Read This Before Getting Root Canal Treatment

Has your doctor told you to get a root canal? Before you do, make sure you understand what to expect and exactly what you’re getting yourself into. And because we at Beduya Dental want to make things easier for you, we’ve rounded up and simplified all the important deets below.

1. What exactly is root canal? In essence, root canal or endodontic treatment addresses issues that exist in the pulp or INSIDE your tooth—mainly where blood vessels, nerves and connective tissues are. So when your endodontist tells you you need root canal, that probably means that the pulp of your tooth is inflamed or infected (or both!). 

2. How do you know if you need a root canal? Well, an endodontist (a dentist who specializes in the study and treatment of the pulp) should be the one to tell you. But how do you know it’s time to see one? When you experience severe pain while chewing or biting onto something, pimples on the gums, a lingering sensitivity of the teeth to hot or cold food, swollen or tender gums and deep decay or darkening of the gums. A chipped or cracked tooth is also a good indication to book that appointment.

3. What is root canal and how does it work? Simply put, during a root canal treatment, the endodontist rids the tooth of its inflamed or infected pulp, thoroughly but carefully cleans the inside of the root canal, then fills and seals the space. After this initial procedure, you must return to your dentist so that he/she can perform restorative treatments on your tooth. It is important to note that while the pulp is highly important during the development stage of the tooth, a fully-grown tooth can survive and function properly without it.

4. Will there be pain during the treatment? As with most modern dental procedures, minimal discomfort may be expected, but most people who has undergone this says that they felt comfortable the entire time. It is important to remember that your teeth may remain sensitive for a few days following the treatment—this is completely normal.

5. Can all teeth be saved by root canal and how much does it cost? Most teeth can be treated by root canal. Few exceptions include: when the root canal is not accessible, the tooth does not have adequate bone support, or if the tooth is severely fractured. As for the cost, this will depend on a number of factors, but PH average is around 6,000php/canal.

As a seasoned specialist, Dr. Edward Beduya is well-equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to assess, recommend and perform root canal treatment. Our clinic, conveniently located in Manila City, is the go-to clinic of people seeking world-class dental services performed by competent, duly licensedprofessionals. For more information or to book your appointment, please contact us at (02) 8354-5388.

Better Dental Implants Are Coming

We at Beduya Dental are always on the lookout for industry developments, and we can’t be more excited to share with you the latest in dental implant technology.

A U.S.-based prosthodontist, Dr. Avinash Bidra, has received a patent for a technology which alleviates major issues with dental implant bridges. Released this September, the patent makes the technology’s (named Bidra Conversion Smart Polishing Cap) commercial availability so much faster.

What does this mean for people with or are getting dental implants?

The technology developed by Dr. Bidra improves on the current standards of implants by adding a component that creates a more exact fit for dental implant pieces.

It prevents the acrylic resin added during fabrication of the implants from coming in contact with other components that could be scratched, damaged, or interfere with the fit of the bridge. Reducing damages at this point also greatly reduces possibilities of soft tissues damage and bone loss by preventing bacteria and plaque proliferation.

Simply put, safer and more comfortable implants can be expected from institutions who will take advantage of the new technology.

Dr. Avinash Bidra is an alumnus at the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine. He is also the school’s director of Prosthodontics Residency Program.