Dental Care Tips for Busy Professionals

With the long commutes, heavy workloads, and fast-paced environments of the business world, maintaining proper dental health can be a challenge.

Though today’s working professionals are more health conscious than their predecessors, keeping to a daily dental routine can still be difficult for those who are always on the go.

A beautiful, healthy smile, however, is a great asset, and various tips and tricks can make prioritising your dental health a reality, no matter how busy you are.

Keep water close every time

It is likely that you have heard professionals in almost every field of medicine preaching the importance of consistent, daily water consumption for your overall health and well-being.

The same holds true for your dental health. Consuming water neutralises the naturally-occurring acid in the mouth, which can lead to the erosion of enamel, cavities, dry mouth, and even gum disease.

Keep a water bottle handy at all times, and try to get the recommended eight eight-ounce servings of water each day and remember to always drink water during and after meals.

Relax your jaw and face

Many people are unaware that the stress of their workday can manifest in various physiological symptoms.

When you are under consistent stress, it can cause tension in the head, neck, and jaw, which can lead to TMJ (temporomandibular joint syndrome). TMJ is a pain disorder that results in localised pain to temporomandibular joint, jaw popping and locking, and headaches, among other symptoms.

Try to remain aware of the amount of tension in your face muscles. Take the time throughout your day to massage your jaw with your fingers while opening and closing the mouth to relieve tension.

Keep a toothbrush, toothpaste at your desk

Keeping a toothbrush and toothpaste at your desk will ensure you always have one on hand after lunch or a quick coffee run. This helps to mitigate plaque build-up and that staining effects of some foods and drinks.

Brushing your teeth after a particularly pungent lunch of salmon or garlic-heavy foods is also proper business etiquette, as it keeps your breath fresh and your smile free of food particles.

Eat healthy and naturally cleansing foods

The benefits of eating healthy and naturally cleansing foods extend beyond the results you’ll see in your waistline: they also contain the minerals and vitamins that fortify the enamel and naturally cleanse the teeth by gently scraping away food particles and plaque.

Good options include:

• Carrots
• Apples
• Almonds
• Pears
• Celery
• Cucumbers

Crunchy snacks also have the added benefit of requiring a longer chewing time, which generates more saliva. This helps the mouth to clear bacteria from the gum line more easily.

Sipping beverages carefully

Be cognisant of how you drink your coffees, teas, and fizzy juices, as these sugary and staining drinks can be a detriment to your dental health.

Consider investing in a reusable glass or stainless-steel straw to keep in your briefcase or at your desk. This will reduce the amount of contact between the drink and your tooth, mitigating their staining and decaying effects.

Book dental appointments at lunchtime

With a busy schedule, it can be tempting to skip dental appointments. However, one of the most important aspects of dental health is maintaining regularly-scheduled dental examinations for a preventative approach.

Work with a dentist who offers convenient lunchtime scheduling for maximum efficiency. You can also easily find an Emergency Dentist in Worthing that offers off-hours appointments on the weekend and late evenings.

Keep sugar-free gum

Chewing gum can be an asset to your dental health because of its ability to remove excess foods and increase saliva production. It is also useful in a pinch for freshening the breath, and some options even have tooth-whitening properties.

However, sugary bubble gums and even many of the gums marketed towards adult consumers contain large amounts of sugar, which leads to the production and build-up of plaque along the gumline.

Instead, keep sugar-free options on hand to limit the amount of sugar that comes into contact with your teeth.

Bad habits you need to quit

There are certain habits that can have a detrimental impact on your dental health, even if you maintain a stringent dental care routine otherwise. These include:

• Chewing on objects other than food, such as fingernails and pens or pencils, which can induce cracking and chipping
• Consuming alcohol, which can stain the teeth and stimulate acid production
• Smoking and using tobacco products, which leads to discolouration, decreased bone density, gum disease, and even mouth cancer.

Conclusion

With a little planning and dedication, these small changes to your day can have a big impact on your oral health and prevent dental complications, helping you maintain your beautiful, healthy-looking smile for years to come.

Article credit:

This article credit goes to Quality Dental Group, One of the leading dental clinics with emergency dentist in Worthing for dental emergencies. They offer same day appointments for emergency dental treatments like dental pain, toothache, and broken teeth.