It’s a fact of life these days that most of us work pretty long hours. Those late workdays don’t leave time for much outside of work - including maintaining our oral health. But don’t let a hectic workday be your excuse to not care for your teeth. It may seem impossible, or at very least not worth the trouble, but keeping your teeth clean during the workday is a great way to stave off many oral health problems that could arise down the line. Here are a few of our favorite tips.

Keep a Travel Kit

Most discount stores sell oral health travel kits in their beauty section for just a few dollars. They usually come with toothpaste, a toothbrush and a small container of dental floss. This pouch can be stored at your desk or in a purse or briefcase so there’s no excuse to not brush and floss after your lunch break.

Rinse, Rinse, Rinse

We know some days require an ample supply of coffee, but the acid in coffee can be really bad for the teeth. Make sure that when you’re done sipping you rinse with water. If you find yourself enjoying the same cup of coffee over an extended period of time, sip water between sips of coffee so the coffee, cream and sugar that could be in your mug isn’t hanging around on your teeth, too.

Don’t Stress

We know, we know, easier said than done. But it’s important to be wary of how stress affects our behaviors. Many people grind their teeth. This is known as bruxism. The kicker? A significant number of people don’t even realize they’re doing it, making it really difficult to stop. If you feel yourself getting stressed, take a moment to do a body check. If you’re clenching your jaw, relax it - and then make an appointment with Dr. Lederman to discuss bite guards and to be evaluated for TMJ disorder.

Need to make an appointment? Dr. Lederman can be reached at 516-882-1764.