October is known for a lot of things. Halloween, National Pizza Month, the first month of fall; but did you know that it’s also National Dental Hygiene Month? This year more-so than others, we should be especially appreciative towards our dental hygienist heroes who continue to show up to work day in and day out to keep you safe and your mouths healthy. While you are staying safe at home, do not forget to continue practicing good oral hygiene!
Benefits of Good Oral Hygiene
The list of benefits of practicing good oral health is long and maybe surprising to some of you! Besides the obvious benefits that you hear your dentist say all the time, reduces cavities, fresher breath and better gum health, there is a long list of preventable side effects of having poor oral hygiene. Practicing good dental hygiene helps lower your risk for health conditions such as cancer, stroke, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s. Having healthy teeth and gums is also a huge money saver! Preventative oral care will always be less expensive than emergency care and oral surgery.
Dental Tips While Working from Home
With about 40% of the US population working from home, we have experienced quite the paradigm shift in our daily routines; substituting a busy morning commute for a walk down the hall in PJ’s to the home office. From keeping children in virtual school on track to snacking around the clock, this new normal has made it easy to forget to take care of yourself (and your teeth)! Take a look at these tips on how to maintain good dental hygiene while working from home:
- Keep floss picks near your workstation to floss between meetings and after snacks
- Sip on water during the day instead of coffee, soda or flavored water
- When you do snack, choose snacks that are low in sugar such as fruit, veggies and dairy products
- Avoid chewing on pens or pencils
- Select dental products with fluoride in them
