Florida Dental Center - Dental Centers in Florida

You brush in the morning and before bedtime, but what about after lunch? It turns out the majority of Americans are neglecting daytime dental care even though they spend a third or more of every weekday at work.

So many toothbrushes and toothpaste to choose from

Everyone who brushes regularly at some point has stood in the store aisle wondering about their choices: the angled toothbrush or the straight one, the tartar control gel or traditional paste. Let these tips help you make the right choice.

"Meals, snacks and sugary beverages during the day contribute to a lot of plaque and can increase the chance of tooth decay and gum disease," says Ted Taylor, DDS, a Delta dental consultant. "Brushing on the job definitely reduces bacteria."

Only 14 percent brush every day at work, according to a survey released by the Academy of General Dentistry and Oral-B Laboratories.

The survey also found that keeping an extra toothbrush at the office increases your likelihood of brushing at work by 65 percent. Here are some other tips to help make brushing at work a regular habit.

Post a sticky note on your desk or computer as a reminder to brush your teeth after lunch.
Brush your teeth right after lunch, before you become absorbed in work or meetings for the remainder of the afternoon.
Always store your toothbrush in some type of travel container, making sure to dry the toothbrush after each use.
Replace your workplace toothbrush more often than your toothbrush at home to avoid bacteria buildup.
Need another incentive to brush at work?

The survey found that one of the least attractive traits of co-workers is bad breath.

Courtesy of the Academy of General Dentistry (www.agd.org).