Brushing
We’ve all heard it a thousand times. Brush. Floss. Rinse. Repeat three times a day. Blah, blah, blah. While some of us are avid brushers, others of us tend to slack a little (or a lot) for various reasons. No doubt, it is important to brush your teeth but sometimes it can be extremely hard to do. However, with as many reasons we can use to get out of brushing, it is important to remember that taking care of yourself, including your mouth, must be done in order to maintain a high quality life.
Too Busy!
For many of us, life is one never-ending list of things to get done. It can be hard to take the time, or even remember, to brush your teeth once a day, let alone three times a day. Taking the time to invest in yourself and your oral health now can save you a ton of time in appointments for crowns, fillings, and root canals down the road. If you are one with an overbooked calendar, try penciling in a date with your toothbrush each morning and night or set an alarm on your phone to remind you each day. While it is advised that you always brush after eating, keep in mind that there is no set rule as to when you must brush. If you find yourself with a few extra minutes in the middle of the day or even waking up in the middle of the night restless, hop over to the sink. It doesn’t matter when you brush, only that you do and do regularly. A few minutes today can save you major headaches, mouth pain, and hard earned cash tomorrow. And that’s enough to make anyone smile!
Bathroom Karaoke
Let’s face it, brushing is boring! Standing in front of the sink scrubbing plaque off my teeth and picking remnants of dinner from my braces does not for a fun Friday night make. It can be a tedious and monotonous experience…and I’m supposed to do it three times a day? I have discovered my own secret weapon over the years that makes brushing not seem so excruciatingly dull! When it’s time to brush my teeth, I grab my phone and crank up the metal. I love listening to music when I brush. Having braces, I shoot to brush for 3-4 minutes each brush sesh, just long enough to rock out to a favorite jam or two. Music helps take my mind off the mundaneness of brushing and makes time fly! Go ahead; give it a try….and if your toothbrush occasionally turns into a karaoke mic, rock on my friend!
Seeing Red
In my years of dentistry, I have heard many people admit that they do not brush because their gums bleed. Seeing blood on your toothbrush can be scary…and gross! If your gums are bleeding when you brush, it can be a sign that you are, in fact, not brushing enough. Avoiding gum health can lead to major oral health issues down the road. Lightly massaging your gums with your bristles can be a lifesaver to add to your brushing routine. It does not take a lot of extra time, only intentional thought and easy effort. Massaging the gums daily with gentle, small circles helps stimulate the gums and increases blood flow. This, in turn, causes your gums to be healthier and in time, they will get stronger and become a healthy pink rather than a red gory mess of doom. Give your gums some love, they will thank you for it!
Rough Day, Rough life!
Life can be rough. Sometimes, after a long, hard day, I just want to plop my butt on the couch and play video games until my mind goes numb. The very last thing I want to do is pause mid-battle to brush my teeth, ultimately causing Princess Zelda to have to wait even longer to be rescued! Vegging after work or school is normal, but there are also some times in life when we veg out more than we usually would. We get depressed, lonely and all in all just down in the dumps for a multitude of reasons. During rough life experiences, the loss of a loved one, relationship breakups and drama with family or friends it is common to put oral hygiene, or even any hygiene, on the back burner until we are out of crisis mode. Sometimes you simply can’t make yourself do anything, and for those of you who can relate, you know exactly what I mean. I have seen it in many, many patients, and also within myself at times. I have discovered, however, that when I am at a low point, taking the time to enjoy investing in my health and beauty makes me feel a little better. It truly is the little things that count. Simple things like taking a walk, washing my face, painting my nails, and yes, even brushing my teeth can make me feel refreshed, clean and more put together than I sometimes secretly feel. You cannot control the curve balls your life throws you but you can manage them. Next time you have a rough day, try investing in your health in some way. In addition to keeping you healthy, investing time in your oral health may also give you that boost you need to face this crazy world with confidence and dazzling pearly whites!
Challenge Yourself
There are a plethora of reasons to neglect your oral hygiene and many of us seem to be escape artists when it comes to getting out of brushing our teeth. No matter what our excuses for brushing are, the fact remains the same: if you neglect yourself, your health will decline. Cavities, gingivitis and even oral cancers are all consequences of oral health neglect. Investing in your oral health can be challenging sometimes but the rewards will enhance your quality of life. If you are struggling with brushing, make a commitment for a month to brush at least two times a day. Challenge your excuses and see what creative way you can find to battle them. At the end of a month, see how you feel. Chances are, you will be proud of the time, effort (and toothbrush karaoke) you put into having fresh breath and a fantastic smile!
Tried out some of our tips? Have a great idea of your own? We want to hear about it! Let us know what you think on Facebook to be entered to win a free scoop of Custard at Culvers!