advice: am i gross for barely brushing my teeth?
3 minute read
people are letting their hygiene slide amid the pandemic.
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dear asking for a friend,
now that the pandemic has me stuck at home, i am finding that i am paying less attention to personal hygiene. i can’t help it. after all, how important are things like brushing my teeth? i barely do it. it’s not like i am seeing anyone. right? or am i just being really gross?
signed, dry brush
dear dry brush,
you aren’t the only one. living and working through a pandemic is testing our priorities, our relationships, and yes, even our commitment to personal hygiene. grooming rituals are being squeezed out, as we take a more relaxed attitude to the elaborate coiffing of days past. at the start of the pandemic, one survey revealed that people were doing less laundry, skipping daily showers and brushing their teeth less.
but while you may think that skipping the usual morning habits of bathing, teeth-brushing and hair styling is freeing up some much-needed time and reducing stress, it turns out that taking a grooming respite can actually add more stress to your life. plus, it can affect your physical health.
let’s take a look at oral hygiene. even before covid, some people were just not that into their teeth — about one-third of those surveyed revealed that they didn’t brush their teeth twice a day, and two per cent of people did not brush at all.
you should brush
to help maintain oral health, the ontario dental association recommends brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing at least once a day. when these daily habits are combined with a healthy diet, you’re more likely to keep cavities, gum disease and bad breath under control.
“plaque and tartar will build up every day that goes by without brushing and flossing,” says dr. lesli hapak, president of the ontario dental association. “the immediate effect will be bad breath followed by red, puffy gums that bleed and are painful. eventually, this leads to bone loss, gum and periodontal disease, loose teeth, gum abscesses and tooth loss.”
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plus, poor oral hygiene has been linked to the development of alzheimer’s disease.
we get that you are feeling a little unmotivated these days, but personal care doesn’t have to be complicated. and it’s important, especially when you consider that a couple of minutes each day could help stave off disease.
but there’s something else you should know about your oral health habits. how you clean your teeth, sharing toothpaste and what you do with your brush can play a role in the transmission of viruses, particularly the one we are all concerned about these days — covid-19.
in a recent study, more than 300 participants who tested positive for the virus shared their oral hygiene habits through an anonymous online questionnaire. daily habits and behaviours revealed that covid-19 transmission was highest among those who shared a toothbrush, toothpaste or the same toothbrush container with others in the same household. the study also revealed that female participants were more likely than males to disinfect their toothbrush after use, and replace their brush after testing positive for covid-19.
don’t take shortcuts with your oral care. opt for a routine that’s easy to stick with and compatible with your lifestyle, and keep your toothbrush, paste and floss to yourself.
is there something about health that you (or a friend, wink, wink) have always wondered about, but are too embarrassed to ask? send a note to info@healthing.ca. we promise your ‘friend’s’ secret — and identity — is safe with us.
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