- Address any dental concerns immediately to get the best treatment and outcomes for your health.
- Improve your oral hygiene habits; brush twice a day with fluoride-containing toothpaste and floss at least once a day.
- Limit consumption of sugary and acidic foods and drinks to help keep teeth and gums healthy.
- Refrain from smoking or using any other tobacco products for better oral health.
Being a busy parent can make it hard to find the time to prioritize your oral health. But with a few simple steps, you can develop healthy habits to keep your teeth and gums in great shape. Taking care of your mouth is important for aesthetic and functional reasons: good oral hygiene helps prevent tooth decay, gum disease, and other dental problems.
Additionally, research has linked poor oral hygiene to serious illnesses like heart attack, stroke, diabetes, respiratory infections, and even Alzheimer’s Disease. So if you want to stay healthy now and in the future, developing good oral health habits should be at the top of your list! Here are some tips on how busy parents can improve their oral health habits.
Address any dental concerns immediately.
Due to their growing family and full-time job demands, busy parents can find it difficult to meet all their needs in terms of dental health. However, proper and prompt attention to any dental concerns is essential for improving oral habits and promptly addressing any issues. In particular, if a parent has recently lost a tooth, look into same-day dental implants as soon as possible.
This is because these provide an aesthetically-pleasing transition between missing teeth and artificial replacements; furthermore, no waiting periods are necessary before retrieval of the new tooth. In sum, busy parents should try to sufficiently address any oral health issues that may arise and consider same-day implants as an option if relevant.
Improve your oral hygiene.
Improving your oral hygiene is the first step to better oral health. Here are some things you shouldn’t miss:
Brush your teeth twice daily.
Busy parents need to brush their teeth twice daily with fluoride-containing toothpaste. Fluoride is a mineral that helps to remineralize teeth and reduce the amount of decay-causing bacteria. Regular brushing helps to remove plaque and food particles from surfaces of the tooth that would otherwise cause decay.
Furthermore, brushing with fluoride reduces the formation of cavities, improving overall oral health. A quality toothbrush and a small pea-size toothpaste should be used at least twice daily for the best benefit. Brushing in the morning and right before bedtime is recommended to maintain oral hygiene between dental visits.
Busy parents must take responsibility for their oral health and the oral health of others in their households by encouraging their family members to brush twice daily with fluoride-containing toothpaste.
Floss once a day.
Flossing once a day is essential to maintaining good oral health that can easily fit into even the busiest schedules. This removes plaque and food particles between teeth and below the gumline, places a toothbrush cannot reach. Not only can these particles lead to decay and infection, but they can eventually cause bad breath as well.
To floss correctly, take about 18 inches (45 cm) of floss and wrap most of it around either the middle finger of each hand. Grasp a couple of inches between your thumbs and forefingers and gently slide the floss against each side of your teeth.
Limit sugary and acidic foods and drinks.
Busy parents must properly limit their children’s sugary and acidic foods and drinks as part of a healthy oral hygiene routine. This is essential to maintain strong teeth and gums and reduce the risk of plaque build-up or tooth decay. Encouraging healthy habits early on in childhood sets your children up for long-term benefits.
Limiting sugary and acidic food intake is one way to do this. Some helpful tips are encouraging them to brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and floss and limit snacking between meals. Taking your child to see a dentist from an early age will help ward off any potential dental problems before they become severe.
Don’t smoke or use any other tobacco products.
Tobacco use is a major factor in the development of periodontal disease, causing bad breath, staining teeth, and increasing the risk of teeth loss. Not only would cessation of tobacco use benefit their oral hygiene, but also set an example for their children about the importance of healthy habits.
It’s also important for busy parents to make preventive visits to the dentist part of their routine so that potential problems can be identified early to avoid more serious health consequences and costly dental bills down the road. Taking a proactive approach to their oral health is a critical step for busy parents to ensure optimal overall health and well-being.
Use an antibacterial mouth rinse.
An antibacterial mouth rinse contains active ingredients that help reduce plaque and promote healthy teeth and gums. They are also proven effective in killing bacteria in the mouth, helping busy parents fight off tooth decay, cavities, and other oral diseases.
Furthermore, some mouth rinses can protect against gum disease by reducing inflammations and destroying destructive bacteria. With regular use as part of a comprehensive dental hygiene schedule, an antibacterial mouthwash can be a great addition for busy parents looking to maintain their oral health.
These are just a few steps busy parents can take to help ensure they and their families have healthy teeth and gums. With the right oral health habits, you can stay ahead of any potential dental problems and maintain great oral hygiene now and in the future.
