Oral Hygiene When Working Remote: Tips for Taking Care of Your Teeth

I’ve been working from home since college, and that means I’ve learned a few tips to keep my body and mind healthy. While it’s important to set boundaries for your mental health, the same is true for your physical health. One area that I struggled with for a long time is taking care of my oral hygiene when working remote.

Luckily, I’ve never had too many problems with my teeth, but I’ve definitely slacked in the past. This was especially true in college and in the first few years after when I was trying to figure out all of those “adult” responsibilities. I would be lying if I said I went to the dentist perfectly on schedule, especially for those first few years when I didn’t have dental insurance after college. This means that it was especially important that I focused on oral hygiene when working remote.

With so many distractions and unhealthy bad habits to be found at home, it’s easy to fall into the wrong routine. In this guide, I wanted to share some of my best tips for taking care of your teeth with the help of Smile Brilliant!

This is a sponsored post in collaboration with Smile Brilliant. All thoughts and recommendations are entirely my own.

1. Make Time for Self-Care

First and foremost, it’s important to take time for self-care. This includes oral hygiene. It’s easy to put off things like brushing your teeth when you’re sleeping in an extra 5 minutes (or 30…), but it really adds up after a while. Similarly, you might find yourself skipping a healthy breakfast or not taking care of yourself because it just doesn’t feel necessary.

It’s hard to find a routine if you’re not going to a traditional office. That’s why it’s essential to make time for self-care and build this into your daily work-from-home plan. If you want to pay attention to oral hygiene when working remotely, you need to make it a priority.

2. Brush & Floss Twice a Day

Again, it’s all about those healthy habits when it comes to oral hygiene while remote working. Make sure you always brush and floss twice a day. One way to sneak in flossing is to keep a roll of floss on your desk! I like to floss while scrolling through my morning email or after my lunch. It’s easy to do this without even thinking about it, and it always feels great!

Now is also a great time to upgrade your toothbrush. I used my old and not-so-reliable manual brush for too long. Despite my dentist’s begging, I thought I was doing fine. After switching to an electric toothbrush, I’m now completely shocked that I went so long without one. Honestly, I’m not sure my teeth have ever been so clean, and this is the longest time I’ve gone without cavities!

3. Eat Healthier Snacks

Next, invest in healthier snacks for your stay-at-home workday. While it’s easy to grab whatever you might have in the kitchen, make sure these snacks are healthy. Sugary snacks and candy might be delicious, but they’re bad news for your teeth. They’ll also lead to that dreaded afternoon crash, so they’re not a good choice.

Instead, I like to stock up my home fridge with safe foods that won’t harm my teeth. Some options are:

Yogurt
Carrots (I dip these in yogurt!)
Plain nuts
Hummus
Apples

When I grab these snacks, I don’t feel that icky-teeth feeling immediately after. Plus, they lead to longer, sustainable energy throughout the day. Win/win for us freelancers who are always on the go!

4. Skip the Sugary Coffee

We all know I love a delicious coffee from my favorite coffee shop, but I try to limit these to special occasions. Not only does making coffee at home save me money, but I can also control what I put into it. Believe me, I love Starbucks as much as the next twenty-something woman, but I know they pack in the sugar with those delicious syrups.

Instead, I make coffee syrups at home or skip them altogether. By making coffee at home, I know I’m drinking something that’s not packed with sugar. I’ve also become quite the barista, and it’s something to look forward to in my morning ritual. When I drink coffee from home, I always use a reusable straw to avoid staining my teeth.

Speaking of staining my teeth, I used to be really self-conscious about my smile. I always worried that it wasn’t white enough and that it was distracting. I was worried to try whitening because my teeth have always been sensitive, so I didn’t know what to do until I tried Smile Brilliant. A few years ago, I reviewed Smile Brilliant’s custom-fitted whitening system and it completely changed my outlook about teeth whitening. Not only did it brighten my smile, but their sensitivity product made sure I didn’t have any unwanted side effects. Check out my before and after below!

5. Invest in Better Sleep | Smile Brilliant

Lastly, I’ve really been getting serious about my sleep. Since the start of the pandemic, my sleeping really took a turn for the worst. I was waking up with jaw pain for the first time in my life, and I didn’t know what was going on. It turns out I was clenching my jaw in my sleep, and this was doing a number on my teeth. After putting it off, I finally started using a custom night guard. It’s been a night and day difference!

A custom dental guard is designed to fit your teeth, keeping your jaw from clenching throughout the night. Because it’s designed for your mouth, a custom sleep guard helps fight teeth grinding, clenching, and jaw pain. We’re all feeling more stressed this past year, so the Smile Brilliant night guard is my new bedtime companion. After the first night, I didn’t even notice I was wearing it! Now, I can’t sleep without it. Because Smile Brilliant uses a lab-direct process, you can get a custom fitted kit without the time, hassle, and expense of a dentist visit.

Smile Brilliant has a lot of great tools that fit into your oral hygiene remote work routine. Their water flosser makes it easier to floss your teeth comfortably, especially if you have a lot of crowding like me. My dentist recommended one at my last visit and I can see why! Their plaque highlighters also help you identify areas of plaque buildup so you can make sure you’re brushing effectively. This is great if you’re having to space out trips to the dentist a bit more recently (I’m looking at you, COVID19!).

Want to win your own Smile Brilliant whitening kit or mouth guard? Join my exclusive giveaway! I’ve been using Smile Brilliant products for years, and you’re going to love trying them too. Even if you don’t win, you get a special 20% off just for entering! (Eligible countries include the US, UK, Australia, and Canada.)

Invest In Your Oral Hygiene While Working Remote

Ultimately, your teeth are worth protecting. While it’s easy to let old habits slide when you’re working from home, it’s important to put your physical health forward. Thanks to Smile Brilliant, that’s easier than ever!

I hope these tips help you lead a healthier life when working from home. Whether you’re freelancing full-time, starting a blog, or just working a side-gig, make sure your teeth are healthy, bright, and strong

How Much Is Teeth Whitening