The best way to keep yourself and your loved ones safe from the current COVID-19 pandemic is to limit trips outside and practice social distancing. However, it’s completely natural to feel a bit bored or anxious while spending so much more time at home. Why not use this new and unusual situation as an opportunity to improve easily overlooked areas of your daily life? Try establishing these seven healthy habits from your Virginia Beach cosmetic dentist to improve your quality of life during quarantine and well after.
1.) Perfect Your Toothbrushing Routine
Do you brush your teeth for two minutes twice a day? Start timing yourself as you brush to ensure you’re cleaning your smile thoroughly. Remember, your Virginia Beach dentist is currently only accepting emergency visits, so it’s more important than ever to keep your smile healthy!
2.) Start Flossing Often & Correctly
Although it’s by no means the most popular part of at-home oral health care, flossing is vital for preventing gum disease and other oral health conditions. Look up videos and diagrams from the ADA on how to floss properly and start practicing this important dental habit daily.
3.) Cut Back on Snacking
Eating constantly throughout the day dramatically increases your risk of tooth decay. Even eating healthy items like fruits too often is enough to fuel cavity-causing bacteria in your mouth. Try to limit your eating to mealtimes and drink plenty of water afterwards if you do snack.
4.) Remember to Stay Hydrated
It can be a challenge to remember to drink enough water every day, especially when we’re at home all day. Try writing notes, setting reminders on your smartphone, or making a game out of it.
5.) Be Active Every Day
You don’t need a gym membership to exercise! Aim to get 30 minutes of quarantine-friendly activity a day, which could include cleaning, dancing, online workout classes, or playing with children or pets.
6.) Follow a Regular Sleep Schedule
The amount of sleep you get significantly influences your mood, mental health, and immune system. Do your best to wake up and go to sleep at similar times every day and allow for at least eight to nine hours of sleep.
7.) Practice Managing Stress
In these strange, uncertain, and somewhat overwhelming times, it’s completely natural to feel anxious or stressed. To make the most out of a bad situation, you can use this opportunity to practice managing stress. A few recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention include:
- Taking care of yourself physically by exercising, eating well, getting adequate sleep, and taking deep breaths.
- Reducing your exposure to COVID-19 coverage and limiting how often you read, watch, or listen to current news stories, including those on social media.
- Occupy your mind productively with calming activities you enjoy, such as meditation, yoga, creating art, listening to music, writing, and communicating with loved ones.
Staying at home more often provides an excellent chance to focus on daily routines that you hadn’t given much thought previously. Establishing these habits now can help you look forward to leaving quarantine happy and healthy!
About the Author
Hampton Roads Center for Cosmetic Dentistry has been building beautiful smiles in Virginia Beach, VA and the surrounding communities since 1996. Dr. Carol Morgan typically uses comfortable patient amenities, the most advanced dental technologies, and a gentle touch to give you the excellent oral health care you deserve. To continue to care for your smile during the COVID-19 pandemic, she is offering free virtual consults to meet your dental needs and answer your questions. She can be reached via video consult, her website, or at (757) 412-1400.