Dental Care During The Zombie Apocalypse: What You Need To Know

In a zombie apocalypse, survival will be your first and only goal in most circumstances. After all, when troves of undead cannibals are trying to eat you, nothing else really matters. However, once you have a decent zombie-avoidance plan in place, you need to think about other important health aspects that can keep you alive and thriving  One such aspect is, of course, your dental health. Without healthy teeth and gums, your entire body can suffer. And unfortunately, an expert in general dentistry is a tough thing to find when the world is invaded by the undead. Luckily, even on the run, there are several things that you can do to keep your teeth and gums as healthy as possible. 

Avoid The Sugar As Much As Possible

When the zombie apocalypse strikes, finding food will likely be a daily challenge. And as the days, weeks, and months wear on, you will be hard-pressed to find healthy, fresh foods. Those that last and endure are either canned or full of sugar. 

As much as grabbing a bunch of candy bars or snack cakes may appeal to you and seem the easiest thing to do, you should try to avoid it if at all possible. Sugar is a double-whammy attack on your dental health. 

First, it coats your teeth eating away at the protective enamel. This can lead to cavities or can eventually expose the underlying dental pulp causing excruciating pain and irreversible damage. Additionally, sugar is a food that bacteria thrive on. Bacteria can cause additional rot and damage to both your teeth and your gums. So, try to avoid it as much as you can.

Improvisational Tooth Brushing

When you are on the run from zombies, you may not always have time or resources to grab and carry a toothbrush and toothpaste. Luckily, there are ways to improvise if need be. 

One easy way to brush your teeth is to use a paper towel. Dampen the towel, and dab on a little toothpaste if you have it. If not, baking soda or a plain, clean towel will do. 

Gently scrub your teeth with the paper towel using short strokes. Make sure to thoroughly scrub both the fronts and backs of your teeth to get them as clean as possible. If you do not have a paper towel, you can use your finger to brush if you clean it first with soap and water. 

Rinse Out Your Mouth

When it comes down to it, you will probably be busy focusing on your continued survival at all times. As such, daily brushing may be a luxury you cannot afford. 

At the very least, be sure to drink plenty of water and rinse your mouth out with water to keep your mouth moist and as clean as possible. If you can get your hands on mouthwash, use it frequently as well. 

Even when the zombie apocalypse strikes, taking proper care of your teeth is important. Poor oral health can lead to a myriad of problems with your overall health, and can make eating extremely difficult, should your teeth require extraction. So, be sure to take care of your teeth in any way possible even when on the run from the undead.