Sabal General Dentistry (McAllen) - February 2023

You Can Have Your Cake and Eat It, Too Developing a Healthy Work-Life Balance

Often, the desire to succeed in our professional lives can take precedence over everything

In reality, perfectionism is out of reach. Constantly striving for perfection can be exhausting, draining, and destructive; at home and in the office. TAKE TIME TO UNPLUG. If the first thing you do in the morning is go online and check emails, or if you’re responding to work texts at the family dinner table, you’ve certainly crossed the line on balancing your work and home life. Quality time at home should be focused solely on your family, and hours at the office are for business activities. Once you mix the two, it can be tough to turn back. TAKE BREAKS. Even 30-second breathers throughout your day can make a drastic difference in improving stress levels, building your concentration, and helping you to feel more engaged — it can even help you to enjoy your job a bit more! By implementing these tips into your routine, you’ll be on your way to a healthier work-life balance, which translates into feeling less stressed, having fewer health issues, being more productive, and having a happier life at work and home.

else in our private lives, including our well-being,

family, friends, and hobbies. Moreover, finding a healthy balance between the two can be challenging as they can begin to blend. Here are the four best ways to keep your work and personal life separate while excelling at both!

LOVE WHAT YOU DO. Loving your job is easier said than done, right? If you can land an enjoyable career that isn’t restraining, you’ll find it’s much easier to leave work at work and home at home. When you’re unhappy with your job, it can affect your overall happiness, and feelings of despair can carry into your personal life. DON’T BE A PERFECTIONIST. Career burnout can drastically impact your personal life, so stop trying to control everything.

TEETH WHITENERS While the safest way to whiten your teeth is a professional tooth whitening from your dentist, there are over-the-counter methods you can add to your dental kit. Always ask your dentist before using bleaching strips or whitening kits to ensure they’re safe for your specific needs. MOUTHWASH Mouthwash does more than make your breath fresh; it also helps control many dental problems like plaque, gingivitis, and cavities. TONGUE SCRAPERS To boost your oral health and reduce foul breath odor, consider a tongue scraper to eliminate harmful bacteria in the deep grooves of your tongue’s surface. Always ask our dental team if you need clarification on which products to buy and to get expert advice on how you take care of your teeth at home. We are here for our patients throughout the entire year — not just the two times you see us.

toothpaste you use has fluoride. This is because fluoride strengthens tooth enamel and can prevent your teeth from decaying. You can also find specialty toothpaste to fit your specific needs, like tooth sensitivity, gingivitis, bad breath, tartar, and more. FLOSS This tool is critical to the success of your healthy smile toolkit because it cleans 35% of your tooth surfaces that your brush can’t reach. DENTAL PICKS AND STICKS These options are great alternatives to flossing if you’re on the go or have spaces in your teeth that may be hard to navigate with string due to bridges, dentures, or braces. These are not toothpicks but plastic or rubber tools certified by dentists. ORAL IRRIGATORS These are what many refer to as water floss and are great tools. They use a stream of water to blast away food particles between teeth just like traditional floss would.

While your dentist can help keep your teeth and oral hygiene in check with routine visits, most of your dental care happens in your own home. So, to ensure your at-home care is as effective as possible, we have compiled a list of the simple tools you can use to create an at- home dental kit. Your Toolkit for a Healthy, Confident, Smile 8 Dentist-Recommended Tools to Keep Your Smile Bright

Here’s what you’ll need:

SOFT-BRISTLED TOOTHBRUSH While a manual brush will work just fine, consider buying an electric toothbrush if you have trouble reaching those nooks and crannies in your mouth, and always change your toothbrush every three months. TOOTHPASTE You can choose any brand of toothpaste you’d like, but it’s important that whatever

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