Brushing Up at the Office Oral Care Tips

Brushing at work may reduce plaque build-up and keep your smile healthy for years. Following are a few tips to help make brushing at the office a lifetime habit:

• Leaving an extra toothbrush at the office, rather than carrying one with you, may increase your likelihood of brushing at work by 65 percent.

• Post a sticky note on your desk or computer at work 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.

• Store your toothbrush and toothpaste at work in a convenient and handy place.

• Make brushing your teeth part of your routine of freshening up at work.

When brushing at the office or away from home, it's important to make an extra effort to keep your toothbrush germ-free. Here are a few tips on how to properly store and care for your toothbrush:

• Always store your toothbrush in some type of travel container.

• Dry your toothbrush after use and before returning to its travel container.

• Change the toothbrush you take to work more often than your toothbrush at home to avoid bacteria build-up.

The "Brushing Up at the Office" Survey was commissioned by Oral-B Laboratories in conjunction with the Academy of General Dentistry and was conducted by International Communications Research. A total of 1,023 full-time employed adults ages 18 and older were surveyed in April 1997.