The usual daily routine was pretty standard for most of us and it usually stayed the same the majority of the time. For example; wake up, brush your teeth, shower, breakfast, rush to work, eat lunch at your desk, meetings, leave work, dinner, maybe a session at the gym and finally, bed!
The Covid-19 pandemic has meant that we all have had to look at our usual routine and, make adjustments in all aspects of home and family time. Our work and social pastimes and hobbies. We are also now being asked to look at our overall health, and to consider our weight, if we smoke………. I know we have a lot to consider.
We are all being asked to holistically appraise our physical, mental and emotional health, so why not while we give ourselves a full MOT, consider our oral health as well.
Here are some examples of pretty bad oral health habits that could be seriously affecting your teeth!
Habit 1 – brushing in the shower
Time is precious in the morning and brushing your teeth in the shower is a genius “kill two birds with one stone” idea, right? Wrong! Multi-tasking like this can lead to you missing parts of your teeth, but you’re less likely to get sloppy if you brush over the sink. Plus as shower water spreads bacteria from the shower- head, it also exposes your mouth to more bacteria.
Habit 2 – brushing after breakfast
Many people are in the habit of brushing after breakfast, however this can be extremely harmful to your teeth, as the acid in your food weakens the enamel as you’re brushing it into your teeth. Therefore, make sure to brush your teeth before breakfast and drink a glass of water after eating to help wash away the acids.
A stick of sugar free gum will also help to remove coffee breath and any residual breakfast.
Habit 3 – juice for breakfast
Everybody loves juicing at the moment. Seems like a great idea – healthy, delicious and you can have it on the go. However, when fruit is broken down and blitzed, the natural sugars are released. A single glass of apple juice can have about 7 teaspoons of sugar in it! The sugar and acidic nature of fruit juices mean that a juice diet is a recipe for disaster for your teeth.
Habit 4 – not drinking enough water
Drinking lots of water throughout the day is not only good for your body, but it also contains fluoride, which keeps your teeth healthy and protected as it washes away the sugars and acids contained in your food. Keep a bottle of water by your desk to encourage you to drink more!
Habit 5 – brushing too hard
The harder you scrub, the cleaner the thing is, may be the case when you’re talking about the kitchen worktops, but definitely not when it comes to your teeth. Brushing too hard can cause gum irritation and enamel erosion. Try brushing with a gentle, circular motion instead.
Habit 6 – rinsing after brushing
Fight the urge to rinse after brushing your teeth, as doing so washes away the protective fluoride contained in your toothpaste.
Habit 7 – grinding at night
If you wake up in the mornings with a sore jaw, chances are you’re probably grinding your teeth while you sleep. This could be because of a number of reasons, but if it’s not treated properly, can lead to chipped and worn teeth. Book an appointment with us for advice and a possible mouth-guard to help protect your teeth.
Don’t forget we are always at hand for advice regarding your oral health, please feel free to contact us .
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