How To Make Oral Health a Priority During Times Of Depression : When you are going through a rough time, it can be harder to take care of yourself, meaning that important routines like brushing your teeth may start to suffer. This article outlines a range of ways you can motivate yourself to brush your teeth, even when you don’t feel like it.
Forget The Rules
Of course, we all know that it is recommended by dentists to brush your teeth two times a day, for two minutes at a time. Normally, people brush their teeth when they first get up and just before they are about to go to sleep.
But you don’t have to stick to these rules! Whenever you feel motivated to brush your teeth throughout the day, you can and you don’t have to brush for the whole 2 minutes per time if you are not feeling up to it. You could just brush your teeth for 30 seconds at a time and use mouthwash before or after brushing your teeth to maximise the effectiveness of your oral health routine.
Cut Down On Sugary Snacks And Junk Food
We all know excessive sugar consumption is bad for our overall health, but it is often our teeth that show signs of damage before the rest of our body. If you are feeling unmotivated to brush your teeth twice a day, you can mitigate some of the damage from not doing so by cutting down on your sugar intake.
When people are depressed, they are more likely to reach for junk food and foods that have high sugar content. These food groups can make depression and anxiety worse in some cases.
You could try taking small steps towards a healthier diet. For example, you can start cooking a meal a week from scratch instead of eating a ready meal. Over time, you can increase the number of days you cook from scratch. Cooking from scratch allows you to have control over what you are eating and could turn into a fulfilling hobby for you, which may help you break free from the negative emotions you may be feeling.
Embrace Teeth Friendly Foods
- Dairy Products: Dairy products such as milk, cheese and yoghurts include high amounts of calcium and vitamin D. They are beneficial for both your bones and teeth.
- Crunchy Fruit and Vegetables: Eating crunchy fruits and vegetables like apples, carrots and celery helps scrub and clean your teeth while you chew.
- Leafy Greens: Spinach and kale are filled with vitamins and minerals that are good for your oral health
Keep Your Toothpaste And Toothbrush In The Shower
If you are struggling to brush your teeth because you are feeling depressed, you can keep your toothbrush and toothpaste in the shower with you. So when you are having a shower, you can brush your teeth at the same time. That’s two positive habits for the price of one!
Try A New Toothpaste Flavour
Did you know that there are toothpaste flavours out there other than mint? Crazy world, right? That’s right, you can get a wide range of toothpaste flavours, including strawberry, banana, coconut and even chocolate! If you are not feeling joy with your current mint-flavoured toothpaste, it may be time to switch things up!
Ask Your Dentist
Explaining your situation to your local dentist in Solihull may allow them to provide you with some tips and tricks of their own about motivating yourself to brush your teeth properly. They may suggest that you visit the dentist more frequently than the standard 6-month gap between visits; you may end up going every 3 months instead. This allows your dentist to keep a closer eye on the health of your teeth while you are less likely to brush your teeth as well as normal.
Chew Sugar-Free Gum
We are not saying chewing sugar-free gum is a substitute for brushing your teeth, but chewing sugar-free gum can help neutralise plaque acids and dislodge food that may be stuck in your teeth. If food is allowed to be stuck in your teeth for extended periods, the sugars from the food item will facilitate the buildup of dental plaque, which will cause your teeth to decay. Chewing sugar-free gum can help alleviate this.
Drink Enough Water
Drinking plenty of water isn’t just good for your overall health; it can also benefit your oral health at the same time. Drinking water helps wash away plaque from your teeth, which can help keep your teeth cleaner and less susceptible to cavities.
Use An Electric Toothbrush
When you are depressed, you are less likely to be energetic about brushing your teeth. This is where electric toothbrushes come in handy. The electric toothbrush does most of the work for you! Electric toothbrushes are more likely to cover a larger surface area of your teeth, meaning that you are less likely to miss any plaque. Also, electric toothbrush heads are often circular, which can also help the toothbrush head reach harder-to-reach places inside your mouth.
Additionally, some electric toothbrushes come with an inbuilt timer that can help you stay motivated when you are brushing your teeth to brush your teeth for the full two minutes per brush.
How To Make Oral Health a Priority During Times Of Depression
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