Did you know that millions of work hours are lost on a yearly basis due to poor oral health?
Your job is a minefield, most especially when it comes to oral health. Snacking, stress, and even the occasional happy hour, can put your gums and teeth in jeopardy.
Below are some tips for maintaining good oral health at work, as well as some major risks to look out for.
Snacking
It can be so easy to get tempted at the bowls of snacks and candy on practically everyone’s desks, and a sugary coffee drink or a caffeinated beverage in the late afternoon is the norm. If you are now working from home, you are most likely a few steps away from the pantry rich with sugary goodies. Yes, it can be very hard to resist snacks. However, it’s best to resist them, since starchy or sugary snacks can wreak havoc on your teeth. Below are some of the major offenders:
- Chips contain starches that break down sugars causes damaging acids that plaque feeds on.
- Chewy sugary treats like dried fruit and caramels make it hard for saliva to wash away destructive sugars.
- Coffee and other beverages that contain caffeine lessen the saliva production in your mouth, leading to gum disease and tooth decay.
Tips:
- If you really cannot resist the urge to munch, choose mouth-friendly alternatives like fresh veggies, fruits or nuts.
- Consider unsweetened black or green tea for your caffeine boost.
- Do your best to eat snacks while eating a meal. Your saliva production is at its highest during mealtimes, which helps wash away harmful sugars and food particles.
Stress
Deadlines, projects, and quotas can produce some of the major stresses in your life. No wonder, stress at work can cause you to indulge in some unhealthy habits, like jaw clenching, teeth grinding, chewing on pens, binge snacking, and nail-biting, all of which can give you gum disease, tooth damage, as well as canker sores.
Tips:
- Do your best to relax. Here are some helpful tips from the American Psychological Association that might help with work-related stress.
- Incorporate some relaxation techniques into your day. Deep breathing exercises and meditation will help you calm down. At the very least, try to take a few quick breaks that will help give you a mental timeout from work.
Happy hour
As much as it helps you unwind after a long day at work, alcohol isn’t great for your teeth. Alcohol can be the cause of gum disease, oral cancer, dry mouth, and tooth decay. They are high in citric acids and sugar, which can damage the tooth enamel, irritate mouth sores, and make your teeth more prone to cavities.
Tips:
- Find alternative ways to make your hour happy! Go for a bike ride or a walk in the park, if the weather permits.
- If the lure of happy hour is too strong to resist, why not drink sparkling water or a non-alcoholic cocktail? If you do consume alcohol, be sure to follow it up with water to wash away any acids or sugar.
Waiting to get treated
This has happened to many of us – you are munching while working and suddenly, you feel that un-oh sensation. Maybe the ice cube was the culprit, maybe it was hard candy, and sure enough, when you looked at the mirror, you spotted a cracked or chipped tooth.
But you have a project due at the end of the day. Or an important meeting in an hour. Surely, it’s fine to wait a few days before going to your Dallas dentist, right? Wrong. When it comes to dental injuries, time is of the essence.
Tips:
- Cracking or chipping a tooth is a dental emergency. The American Dental Association suggests that if this happens, it’s best to see your dental provider as soon as possible. If there is swelling or redness, be sure to put cold compress on your face.
- The meeting or the project can wait – regardless of the injury, you will feel much better the sooner you visit your Dallas dentist.
