We all know the proper way to clean teeth: brush twice a day, in the morning and again at night. But these aren’t the only times that you can clean your teeth, and often shouldn’t be. For many people, looking after their teeth is something they practice throughout the day. Whether you’re a student, working professional or just away from home, here are some quick ideas to keep your teeth clean throughout the day.
Consider what you’re eating
When you’re out and about, it pays to be thoughtful about the types of food you eat. This isn’t just about food getting stuck in your teeth; it’s also the smell that may linger on your breath. Avoid foods that are heavy in garlic or onion as they may lead to a lingering scent on your breath. Depending on where you are, that can be extremely problematic.
Sugary snacks leave traces of sugar and acid on your teeth. Bacteria feed on this, slowly eating away at your teeth and causing cavities to form. When away from home, it might be best swapping out the sugars for healthy snacks like apples or carrot sticks. These contain a lot of water which naturally helps rinse your mouth.
In terms of drinks, stick to water as much as possible. Coffee, juice and soft drinks can lead to discolouration on your teeth that is hard to remove. Water also has a number of general health benefits and promotes saliva production, which continually keeps your teeth rinsed.
Don’t rush to brush!
Carrying a toothbrush with you is truly useful, but don’t be in a hurry to brush right after eating. Doing so can actually cause more harm than good!
It might seem tempting to try and remove the little food particles as early as possible. Many types of food — particularly acidic foods — soften your teeth, and brushing immediately after eating can actually cause damage. Cleaning before your mouth has had a chance to rinse can lead to tooth decay.
We recommend waiting at least 30 minutes after eating before brushing. After this point, your enamel has hardened again and won’t be damaged.
If you decide to leave a toothbrush at work or in the car, be careful! It may develop bacteria and nasty germs if not properly looked after. Even if you own a travel case, bring it home with you to scrub and clean regularly. This ensures your toothbrush is always in a sterile environment.
Is toothpaste necessary to clean teeth?
On the whole: yes. Toothpaste has a host of benefits for your teeth. But how about while you’re out and about?
Using toothpaste will obviously make your clean much fuller and more effective for overall oral health. However, if you keep up with your regular daily cleans, it is not essential to use toothpaste while you’re out. Just using your toothbrush will still go a long way to removing plaque and bacteria.
This isn’t to say necessarily that you shouldn’t use toothpaste if you can, but it’s ok if you can’t. Many people prefer privacy when brushing their teeth, and they may not be able to access that. It’s ok to just use your brush in those cases, as long as you continue cleaning fully at home.
Should you use toothpicks?
Using toothpicks to dislodge stuck pieces of food is a pretty common practice. Unfortunately, hard wooden toothpicks are actually not ideal for cleaning your teeth — they can cause gum damage and lead to infection.
Toothpicks may splinter or break while in your mouth, leading to accidental swallowing or small pieces getting lodged in your gums, tongue and throat. They may also damage existing dental work you’ve had done, and generally just weaken your enamel and roots.
Using a toothpick gently and carefully may not lead to damage, but frequent use makes damage much more likely. Interdental brushes or floss do the same job in a much safer way. It is worth keeping something like this handy and learning how to clean in between your teeth properly.
If you find yourself frequently using toothpicks for the same areas, it’s probably time to get your teeth checked. Food may be getting stuck in the same places due to decay, movement or fillings that have not properly settled.
On the go teeth cleaning packs
If you’re often away from home, it could be worth making up a travel pack for your dental health. Here are some things we would recommend to try and keep handy:
- Toothbrush and toothpaste: Obviously the best clean is a full clean, but if you aren’t able to keep both of these, try to have access to a toothbrush at minimum.
- Mouthwash: Swishing a little mouthwash around can help to freshen your breath and remove any lingering food odours. While it doesn’t replace your brush, it can be useful to have on hand for emergencies.
- Floss/Piksters: Floss helps to remove food particles and plaque without damaging your gums, doing the job of toothpicks without the negatives. Piksters or other interdental brushes also do the same and are specifically designed to fit between your teeth.
- Sugar-free gum: Sugarless gum stimulates saliva production, which helps to clear away food and bacteria and reduce the acids in your mouth that weaken enamel. Similarly, the scent of gum can cover up food odours and freshen your breath.
- Pocket mirror: A small mirror will help you see what you’re doing while cleaning. If you can’t find a pocket mirror, the selfie camera in your smartphone should do the trick!
While all these ways to clean teeth or keep them healthy are useful, the best way to clean your teeth is to ensure you are going through full cleans at least twice a day while at home, but making an on the go pack can help maintain your oral hygiene and provide peace of mind during the day. For more tips on keeping your teeth in their best shape, check out our blog!
