Work Lunch and Your Oral Health

Many people don't understand how lunch at work can affect their oral or dental health. The effects can accumulate over the years. Fortunately, you can mitigate the effects and protect your oral health once you understand how your lunch habits affect it.

Problems



The foods you eat and how you eat them all matter. Below are specific threats your work lunch might have on your oral health.

Damaging Food

Many people don't plan their work lunch as carefully as they do meals at home. For example, some people opt for quick or processed foods whenever they eat at work. Thus, you might do the following:

• Eat sugary foods that feed oral bacteria. The bacteria process the sugar and produce acids that erode your teeth's enamel.
• Take drinks that stain your teeth, such as coffee and tea.
• Drink acidic foods that erode your teeth, such as soda.
• Eat unbalanced meals that are not nutritious enough to keep you healthy.

The more you eat and drink such foods, the greater their effect on your teeth will be.

Lack of Hygiene Products

You can usually mitigate the damaging effects of food on your oral health if you clean your teeth after eating. However, many people don't do that because they don't have oral hygiene products in the office.

Lack of Time

Apart from lack of oral hygiene products, lack of time can also hinder your oral hygiene attempts at work. You can likely attribute this to the pressures of work and limited time. Don't forget that dentists also advise people to wait for some time before they brush after eating. Unfortunately, many people don't even leave their desks at lunchtime.

Mitigation Measures

The following measures can help you protect your oral health if you regularly eat at work.

Choose Food Carefully

Carefully choose what you pack or buy for your lunch. For example, you should:

• Limit sugary foods
• Ensure you have adequate drinking water
• Include whole foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and nuts

Many people find that they eat healthier meals if they plan for them.

Stock Dental Hygiene Products at Work

Everyone should brush at least twice a day and floss at least once a day. You can brush in the morning and evening and floss in the evening. However, you should stock dental hygiene products at work if you don't brush in the evening or morning. You should also stock the provisions if your lunch is usually sugary or sticky.

Rinse Your Mouth After Eating

Rinse your mouth with plain water every time you eat or drink sugary, acidic, or staining foods. This measure is a good alternative if you cannot brush your teeth. Sip some water and swish it around your mouth and then swallow or spit it out.

Chew Sugarless Gum After Eating

Another alternative is to chew sugarless gum. Chewing gum will stimulate saliva production in your mouth. Saliva helps to clean and remineralize teeth. Saliva also reduces dry mouth syndrome. Chew the gum for several minutes for maximum benefits.

Budget for Oral Care Time

The above tips won't help you much if you don't practice them because you are busy. Give yourself time to brush, floss, or rinse your teeth after you eat. After all, your health is the most precious thing you have.

Hopefully, your office lunch habits won't damage your oral health too much. Don't forget to consult Koehn Dentistry & Aesthetics for regular dental examinations once every six months. You can also consult us for any dental or oral problems you might develop. We have been in the dental industry for years, and you can trust our professionalism.