Oral Health: Things To Watch For At Work

When you’re at work, getting things done, hitting deadlines, and making it through the day, one of the last things you’re probably thinking about is your oral health. While you probably don’t have much time to spare, we do encourage you to take just a moment of your downtime (or time at home) to consider a couple things you can easily watch for at the workplace. You’ll find that you can easily tweak some habits, so your smile is no longer in immediate danger!

Prolonged Computer Use

Are you someone who sits in front of your computer screen for hours on end? This is very common, so don’t worry that we’re going to tell you to scrap the computer. Instead, we simply encourage you to remember to get up, walk around, stretch, and do your best to maintain good posture. Long spells in front of a screen generally cause you to lean your head forward, which leads to TMJ (jaw joint) stress, which can lead to functional oral health problems.

Food And Chewing As Distraction

Whether you need a distraction, you need to stay awake, or you’re just a snacker, it’s common to sip on coffee, grab candy from the vending machine, and end up snacking the workday away. We encourage you to remember that this can expose your teeth to an acid environment that almost never ends, which means cavities are likely. You may wish to limit the snacking or drink more water (and brush or chew sugarless gum when you can) to protect your oral health.

Keep Your Oral Health Safe All Day, Every Day

Remember to take a few special steps throughout your workday to ensure you’re protecting your oral health. Schedule a visit with your dentist in Austin, TX by contacting Austin General Dentistry today at 512-346-5540.