As many jobs continue the work-from-home setup, people spend less time grooming themselves for the day. A study on personal grooming notes that remote workers spend one-third less time preparing themselves for work on average. But with the convenience of not having to go out come some sacrifices in personal hygiene; as many as 26.6% of remote US workers skip daily showers, compared to 15% of office workers, and workers who stay at home had a notable 3.5% drop in oral hygiene. Furthermore, remote workers are also prone to snacking, especially on salty or sweet foods. Combined with poor oral hygiene habits, these can ruin dental health in the short term. Rather than exacerbating the problem and leading to costly dental check-ups, work-from-home workers must make an effort to fulfil proper oral hygiene. In this article, we’ll cover some dental care tips while working from home:
Limit consumption of sugary food and drinks
While all foods and drinks can cause tooth decay when not dealt with properly, some particular food and drinks can accelerate the process. A report on dental health notes that there are more than 700 species of bacteria within our mouths, both helpful and harmful bacteria. The latter can break down the sugars and turn them into acids that pull minerals from your teeth, leading to cavities. As many know, these problems are caused by sugary food and drinks. Considering how the work-from-home setup can tempt us to make a homemade fruit smoothie or eat sweet biscuits on the reg, we must become more mindful of what we eat and drink. Through proper awareness, we can protect our dental health and improve our overall body health.
Schedule self-care breaks
The hustle and bustle of work can sometimes keep you occupied and end up with you neglecting your health. If you spend too much time on the computer or at your desk, you may experience health problems and even contribute to burnout. That is why one of the best tips for professionals working from home is to schedule breaks and follow them. Set aside time for lunch and smaller breaks throughout the day to rest your mind and rest your body; make sure you don’t work during these times. These breaks are perfect moments to incorporate dental care routines like flossing or brushing your teeth, activities that only take as little as two to four minutes to accomplish.
Set reminders
If you tend to forget to do your dental care routines, you can set reminders to ensure you follow through with these good habits. Sometimes, people set alarms to remind themselves but skip these notifications and forget about them later. Like scheduling work meetings or breaks, you must make these times a non-negotiable moment. A potential alternative is to have an accountability buddy where you both can check in with each other to fulfil healthcare routines. You can encourage each other to build good habits beyond consistent oral hygiene, such as encouraging them to eat less sugary snacks and opt for more fruits and vegetables. Through mutual support, you both can improve both oral and body health. It can be easy to neglect dental care when working from home. But you can work towards a Hollywood smile by being more mindful of sugar intake, scheduling self-care, and being consistent with these good habits.
Written by Carlisle Lindsay for dentaltrainingltd.com