Impact of Food Habit Changes on Dental Health due to Lockdown

The world has indeed changed and yes, we all are working from home either full time or partly for a lot many months now owing to the extended periods of lockdowns to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our food habits particularly have undergone significant changes for frequency, type of food/snacks, quantity, home remedies for the pandemic, etc. We deemed it fit in the above-mentioned circumstances to conduct this cross-sectional survey. The Construct of this survey framework was with a special emphasis on the increased intake of VITAMIN C and frequent SNACKING BETWEEN MEALS impacting oral health and the repercussion it may have in the years to come on the individual?s DENTAL HEALTH. Compiling the responses that have been recorded, it is evident that people have increased their frequency of food intake to more than just 3 or 4 meals a day. In addition to that, many people are unaware of the importance of gargling and rinsing post snacking and hence missed doing it. Also, as studies have proven the importance of vitamin C as an immunity booster in these trying times, people have resorted to a plethora of ways to increase the levels of the same in the body, be it in the form of natural substitutes or artificial supplements. And as is the case above, many opt to ignore following any oral hygiene protocol post intake. This ignorance may show a particular increase in the incidence of dental caries and enamel erosion.