Save time by taking care of your oral health proactively.

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to end up with a busy schedule—especially if you’re trying to juggle a dedicated career with a social life, plenty of family time, and other responsibilities. Even when you love staying busy or tackling the challenges that your packed schedule presents, it can begin to get in the way of your oral hygiene. You may feel pressed for time in the morning or exhausted at night, causing you to skip or rush through your routine. This can cause oral and even overall health issues over time, which can be painful, costly, and will likely take a chunk of time out of your already tight schedule for treatment.

Investing just a few minutes into your oral hygiene routine each day can make a huge difference, helping you avoid these pitfalls. You can also gain optimum oral health by forming a few simple habits that focus on proactive, thorough dental care. Here are 5 quick, easy oral hygiene tips you can incorporate into your daily routine.

1. Keep a toothbrush and toothpaste at work.

If you’re incredibly busy, keeping a spare toothbrush and toothpaste at work is a great way to make sure that you’re able to fit regular oral hygiene into your day. It can be a lifesaver if you run out of time to brush your teeth at home in the morning or if you simply need to refresh your breath throughout the day or before a big meeting. You should brush your teeth for at least two minutes twice a day, but brushing three times a day certainly isn’t a bad thing! It is possible to overbrush, though, by brushing your teeth too hard or too often, so be careful to brush your teeth gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush. It may initially feel a little weird to brush your teeth at work, but it can make a huge difference in your oral health. Plus, having fresh breath can give you a boost of confidence and help you leave a good impression on the people around you.

2. Use travel flossers on the go.

When you’re on the go a lot, it’s a good idea to keep travel flossers on hand. Flossing is often overlooked, but it’s the best way to prevent gum disease. As a result, it’s wise to make sure that you’re not skipping this essential part of your oral hygiene routine. Travel floss is easy to store and use on the go, so you can use it wherever you are, whether that’s on a business trip or at the office. This way, you can find a few spare minutes to floss even if you don’t have time before you leave for work. It can also save you in a pinch by helping to dislodge any stubborn pieces of food stuck in your teeth from lunch.

3. Eat crunchy fruits and vegetables.

Fruits and vegetables are healthy for your entire body, including your teeth. Aside from the vitamins and minerals in fruits and vegetables that help strengthen your teeth and immune system, crunchy fruit and vegetables have another trick up their sleeves. They actually help clean your teeth as you eat them by scraping plaque from their surface. This helps to protect your teeth from decay and serves as a sharp contrast against sugary or carbohydrate-rich snacks, which provide ideal fuel for the bacteria in your mouth and stick to your teeth. This turns your snack into an extended buffet for bacteria.

Crunchy fruit and vegetables like carrots and apples are a healthier option for your oral and overall health. In addition to cleaning your teeth, they provide you with a longer-lasting boost of energy in the middle of the day—without the crash that comes with unhealthy snacks. You may be surprised by how much switching to healthy snacks can impact the way you feel on a daily basis and improve multiple aspects of your health, including that of your teeth and gums.

4. Drink plenty of water.

While coffee or sodas can give you a much-needed temporary boost in the middle of the day, drinking them constantly is bad for your teeth on several levels. Coffee and soda are both acidic, tend to stain your teeth over time, and often contain large amounts of bacteria-feeding sugar. It’s wise to limit how much of these drinks you’re consuming on a daily basis. Instead, try sticking to water between meals. Water isn’t simply a neutral choice, either—it actively helps prevent cavities by flushing your mouth of food debris and restoring its natural pH. Since many adults don’t drink enough water to begin with, you may also notice that switching to drinking more water gives you a boost of energy, which can help your busy schedule feel more manageable.

5. Plan dental appointments well in advance.

Making time to visit your dentist every six months is a vital part of gaining and maintaining optimum oral health. It gives your dentist the chance to spot problems like cavities or gum disease early, before they become a major problem, and can be a great source of easy oral hygiene tips. The professional dental cleanings that you get during regular dental appointments are also a vital part of preventing cavities and gum disease because they remove hardened tartar that you simply can’t clean from your teeth at home. When you keep a busy schedule, though, it can feel hard to squeeze a regular appointment in.

Thankfully, you can solve this by scheduling your appointment in advance on a day and time that is less busy. One good method is to book in your next dental appointment at the end of your current appointment, six months in advance. This way, you’re able to schedule around your appointment instead of trying to fit it into the very small cracks left in an already-full schedule. It’s less stressful and ensures that you’ll be able to make it to regular dental appointments.

We know what it’s like to feel pressed for time because of a hectic schedule, but your oral health doesn’t have to suffer for it. After all, your oral health is an investment; maintaining it will keep you healthier and save you time in the long run. Thankfully, there are plenty of habits and methods you can use to ensure that your teeth and gums stay healthy without disrupting your busy schedule. You can start yourself on the right path today by calling our office to schedule your next appointment in advance!