- Why midday oral care matters
- Practice good oral care at the office with these easy, work-friendly dental tips
- Teeth cleaning on the go: What to do when brushing is not an option
The Midtown Toronto neighbourhood of Yonge and Eglinton is populated by thousands of young professionals all working hard to climb the ladder of success and create the lifestyle they have always dreamed about.
Although career success often hinges largely on dedication, commitment, and working long hours, other factors also play into how far you can go. Optimal personal grooming and hygiene also come into play, which includes taking care of your oral health.
The flurry of activity that comes with an average workday might cause oral hygiene to rank low on your list of priorities. However, your teeth and gums can easily be impacted by coffee breaks, quick fast food lunches, and long meetings, and lead to oral health issues that can create a bad impression on your colleagues and management team, potentially stunting your career ambitions.
Why midday oral care matters
Many people consider oral health care something to worry about only in the morning and just before bed. These are indeed the optimal times for brushing and flossing regularly, but oral health should not be ignored in between them.
That is because coffee, sugary or starchy foods, and soft drinks consumed during the workday can leave harmful acids in your mouth. These acids wear away at your tooth enamel, the hard outer layer that protects the soft tissue within your teeth. This process, known as enamel erosion, makes you more susceptible to cavities and other oral health problems.
Additionally, the acids will combine with your mouth’s natural bacteria, food particles, and saliva to form a sticky, colourless film, known as plaque, that adheres to the teeth. Plaque on already weakened enamel can be the fast track to tooth sensitivity, pain, and gum disease.
Food particles can also become unsightly when they become stuck between teeth, which can impact your confidence during meetings. They can also lead to bad breath, which coworkers never enjoy.
Another problem can come from coffee or tea, which can discolour your teeth over time, affecting your appearance to the point where you might not want to smile, giving colleagues and management the impression that you are unhappy or unfriendly.
Work-friendly oral hygiene is not just for office workers. People who work from home might mistakenly believe that they do not have to care for their teeth because they are generally alone all day. The truth is that oral care is critical to maintaining healthy teeth and gums, no matter where you work or what you do for a living.
The good news is that integrating good dental hygiene habits into your daily at-work routine is much easier than you might think. It only takes a few minutes to help your smile be as bright and healthy as possible, prevent bad breath, and stand out among your peers.
Practice good oral care at the office with these easy, work-friendly dental tips
Here are some tips to freshen up your mouth when needed so you can return to your duties with confidence.
First of all, you can make brushing your teeth at work easy by keeping a soft-bristled travel toothbrush and a mini-tube of toothpaste in your desk or purse. Handy flosser sticks are also ideal for easily removing food particles stuck between your teeth. These tools are convenient after lunch or if you feel the need for a quick 2-minute oral cleanup.
Other midday dental hygiene tips include snacking on smile-friendly foods such as apples or cheese to dislodge food particles and promote salivary production, which will also help cleanse the mouth of acids. Chewing sugar-free gum with xylitol is another tooth-friendly way to loosen bits of food and stimulate saliva production, with the added benefit of maintaining fresh breath at work.
After snacks or drinking coffee, rinse your mouth out with water. This is another effective way to not only remove food particles but also wash away acids that can discolour teeth.
Finally, drinking water throughout the day will help keep your mouth fresh by preventing dry mouth, which can cause bad breath and reduce saliva production, potentially leading to tooth problems in the future.
Teeth cleaning on the go: What to do when brushing is not an option
In some instances, you may be attending an off-site lunch meeting or other remote location where you will not be able to brush. Fortunately, there are still ways to maintain good oral health by using pocket mouthwash tabs or mini-floss tools for quick, discreet maintenance.
For meetings where food is offered, focus on consuming the best dental snacks such as carrot sticks, celery, nuts, or other crunchy options that will help keep your mouth fresh and clean. Again, opting for water over coffee or tea is the best way to maintain fresh breath throughout the day.
Turning these tips into small habits can lead to lasting oral health, giving you an edge when work advancement opportunities arise. Create new business relationships, secure more deals, and boost your career prospects with a healthy smile designed for career success!
How Yonge Eglinton Dental can help your career with professional dental health services
Remember, great local dental health care is not just for professionals in Midtown Toronto – it is for everyone!
Whether you work, live, or just like to hang out in our neighbourhood, Yonge Eglinton Dental is ready to welcome you into our offices for regular checkups or quick cleanings when you need them. Our convenient location on Yonge Street just north of Eglinton Avenue ensures that our expert dental health services are easily accessible.
However, we are more than just dental health experts. We are also your partners in helping you enjoy optimal teeth and gum health all year round, and are always happy to provide professional oral care tips and practical dental advice so your teeth, gums, and any dental work are protected at all times.
Make an appointment with our dental team soon – we look forward to seeing you!
Improve your at-work oral health with help from the dental experts at Yonge Eglinton Dental in Toronto
Contact our dental health team when you are ready to optimize your oral health. We will work together to ensure your teeth and gums look great and are as strong and healthy as possible. Make an appointment for an office visit today by calling our office at 416-932-2222 or booking online. We look forward to seeing you!
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