How to Keep Your Teeth Healthy at Work

Keeping your teeth healthy at work can be challenging, depending on where you work. For people who work in a modern office building there isn’t too much of a problem. You have hot and cold running water and a bathroom with a sink. But if you work out in the field, on a construction site or in a place where the closest thing you have to a bathroom is a port-a-potty, it gets more difficult to clean your teeth, yet it is no less important.

People clean their teeth at work for a variety of reasons. One of the most common reasons is simply to clean them after their lunch break. Some only brush when they have food particles stuck in their teeth. Others brush after they’ve eaten candy or donuts and then others brush only if their lunch contained garlic or onions that can cause bad breath.

So What Should You Do at Work for Your Teeth?
The first thing you should do is get a kit together that you can leave at work or easily bring with you. It should contain your toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, a container for water if you don’t have a bathroom at work and possibly a travel container of mouthwash. The mouthwash should not contain alcohol because alcohol-containing mouthwash can dry your mouth and reduce the flow of saliva. Saliva cleans your teeth for you in between brushings. The preferable type of mouthwash contains an antibacterial or antiseptic in it. These mouthwashes actually kill the bacteria that causes tooth decay and bad breath.

Here’s the drill. After lunch, make sure you wait about 30 minutes for your saliva to do its thing, then brush your teeth. When you are finished brushing, use your mouthwash. If you eat candy or snacks, this is a good time to floss. Do your flossing after your snacks and then rinse out your mouth. Drinking water throughout the day instead of soda, coffee or tea is always a good practice to keep your teeth healthy. If you have any questions, or if you would like to learn more, please call us today at (903) 231-6605