Fewer adults are skipping work because of toothaches, dental appointments, and similar problems, according to a January 2017 survey of 1,108 working people aged 18 years and older conducted by Delta Dental. In 2015, 28% of adults in the workforce missed work due to an oral health issue, a figure that dropped to 21% in 2016.
Bill Kohn of Delta Dental said that this decline “indicates people in the workforce are having fewer oral health issues and taking better care of their teeth”.
Millennials, the demographic that typically reports the highest amount of missed work due to oral health issues, have seen a decline from 40% reporting missed days in 2015 to 33% in 2016. And while men (25%) still miss more work days than women (17%), both of those numbers are down compared to 2015’s totals. Delta Dental suggests that these trends can be kept moving down by people utilising a number of oral health tips while they are at work:
- keep a toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss stored in your desk in case you need an after-lunch touch-up;
- choose healthy snacks instead of sugary treats;
- drink plenty of water – keep a water bottle on your desk to keep your body hydrated and to swish around your mouth after eating; and,
stressful work can lead people to clench or grind their teeth. When you start to feel stress, you should take a minute to clear your mind, breath slowly and deeply, and relax.
