Plaque Doesn’t Take a Break: Why You Should Keep Dental Supplies at Your Desk

The bacteria that cause tooth decay and gum disease may be good-for-nothing parasitic freeloaders, but that doesn’t mean they’re too lazy to go to work with you. With the fast pace of the modern workplace, it can be too easy to head to the local fast-food joint for a starchy sandwich and a sugary soda during your lunch break day after day. Accordingly, it’s a great idea to keep a toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss in your desk drawer at work. Here are a few more reasons why you should consider having a stash of dental supplies in your workspace.

You Might Be in a Rush Some Mornings

It’s no secret that people sometimes wake up late. If you’re running late one morning, you might wish that you could skip performing your oral hygiene routine at home. If you have a toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss hidden away in your desk, you can skip that step, clock in at work, and then brush there. It also allows you to brush after lunch, snacks, or one of the slices of cake they might pass around the office for somebody’s birthday.

Fresh Breath Is a Courtesy to Your Coworkers

Your job might put you in a situation where you work in close quarters with others, or maybe you have to stand over people’s shoulders so you can help them do something on their computers. If your breath is fresh in these situations, your coworkers will notice the difference. Knowing your breath doesn’t smell like the tuna salad and that bag of sour cream and onion potato chips you had for lunch can also help you sit through that meeting with confidence.

It Feels Great to Have a Clean Mouth

That itchy, caustic, sticky feeling that sodas and other sugary foods leave on your teeth is an unpleasant sensation that people today have become far too used to. If you have your dental supplies ready to go at your workspace, you won’t have to tolerate it anymore! The workday can be stressful enough, so going through it with clean teeth and a fresh, minty feeling in your mouth can help you smile a little wider and your shift go a little more smoothly.

About the Author

Dr. Mamata Ponnaganti earned her dental doctorate at Boston University’s Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine and has served as a dentist for more than twenty years. She is a proud member of the American Dental Association, the Florida Dental Association, and the Academy of General Dentistry. Her offices in Westchase and Clearwater, FL offer general, pediatric, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry. For more information on taking care of your teeth while on the job, contact her online.