De-Stress in the Two Minutes it Takes to Brush Your Teeth
December 16, 2020 Grïppi Lifestyle

De-Stress in the Two Minutes it Takes to Brush Your Teeth

We often zone out or multitask while we brush our teeth, but what if we approached this daily habit differently? Especially now, it’s important to find ways to practice mindfulness daily, and brushing your teeth is an easy way to do this. Oral health affects your mental and physical health, and ultimately, your quality of life. By transforming your daily brushing habit into a mindful habit, you’ll incorporate your mental and physical health together. 

Brush Correctly 

Most people don’t know the proper brushing technique, and this is extremely harmful in the long run. Children are usually taught to brush up and down or in circles, which misses the pocket below the gum line. This leads to plaque build-up, inflammation, and sore and bleeding gums. 

The ADA brushing technique (BASS Method) starts with aiming the head of the brush 45 degrees into the gum line. Apply light pressure and short strokes on the surface of your teeth and gum line. Invest in a Grïppi brush while you are learning and focus on this technique while brushing instead of zoning out. Proper brushing can also help you destress from social anxiety. Proper brushing technique can eliminate bad breath, making sure that you are putting your best smile forward at all times. Utilizing proper brushing technique can also save you the stress of having to deal with odor when flossing your teeth, or floss that smells bad after you are finished. Properly cleaning your teeth can eliminate this odor and help you stay stress-free. 

Be Present 

It’s not always easy to live in the moment — especially during COVID-19, and while doing something as habitual as brushing our teeth. But Dr. Elissa Epel, the director of the UCSF Aging, Metabolism, and Emotions Center, tells Thrive Global that brushing your teeth is a great opportunity to be more mindful and ease stress, “Enhancing our daily purpose and gratitude are both stress-reducing,” says Epel. You can also focus on something simple like breathing, which helps you destress after a long day, according to research in Frontiers in Psychiatry

The two minutes you spend brushing your teeth is an opportunity for habit-stacking. While you are brushing, contemplate your day, practice gratitude, focus on your breathing or simply focus on brushing correctly to slow down at the end of the day. You’ll head to bed with clean gums and a clear head.

De-stress with Grïppi

Celebrate the conclusion of the day as you brush your teeth with Grïppi. We have a variety of brush options that can help you elevate your brushing routine, from a Charcoal-Infused Toothbrush to brushes designed for kids with MD Brush technology in mind. Grïppi promotes the relentless drive to learn, pursue, and grow to maintain your oral and overall health and maximize life’s full potential. Get Grïppi, and experience the brush of your life.