By: Gary Witten,
Demotte, In. U.S.A.
I really need to brush my teeth every morning. that is very important to me. i have had perfect teeth for a long time & i want to keep that way. i’m going to start driving for a company that will keep me on the road for long periods of time. also,i hate the stale taste in my mouth if i don’t brush in the morning also. please help. THANKS!!!
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Response from Vicki:
Hello, Gary,
Thank you for asking your question on our site. You are to be congratulated for wanting to keep your dental situation in good shape.
We never had a problem with brushing our teeth regularly as long as we had a portable toilet in our truck. We kept several gallon jugs of water with us in the truck (mostly delivered by water vending machines).
During our days on the road, we used commercial toothpaste. These days, we make our own with
* coconut oil,
* baking soda,
* a dab of stevia powder for sweetness, and
* a bit of pure peppermint essential oil for flavor.
The reason for making our own toothpaste is to avoid the problems associated with the warning on at least one commercial toothpaste that mentions the Poison Control Center:
When brushing in-truck, we poured a bit of water into a cup (usually a measuring cup with a handle that we kept with us for cooking), wet our toothbrushes, put some toothpaste on our brushes and then brushed thoroughly. We would brush “over” the open toilet to catch what we expelled during the brushing and rinsing cycles.
We aimed to brush our teeth after every meal. It is a bit trickier for one to brush his/her teeth regularly when he/she has a local truck driving job and does not take a brush or paste along every day. Of course, a determined local trucker can pack a compact toothbrush and small amount of paste in one’s lunch.
For OTR truckers who do not have a portable toilet in their trucks, simply take your brush and paste into the restroom you use, for use there.
As you may know, brushing one’s teeth regularly can help one avoid costlier dental problems later on, like the need to deal with cavities. Some sources recommend brushing at least twice a day.
It is not absolutely crucial to have toothpaste to brush one’s teeth, but it can help. Flossing also helps loosen food stuck between teeth. On our Grooming Tools and Personal Hygiene Items for Pro Truckers page, we list the things that we took with us on the road for this purpose.
Finally, dental health may also be improved through the procedure known as “oil pulling” first thing in the morning. You may research this online if you like.
I hope that this is helpful.
We wish you safe travels and lots of money saving opportunities on the road.
Best regards,
Vicki Simons
https://truck-drivers-money-saving-tips.com/
—– Comment —–
Mouth Wash by Rick
Date: Jun 8, 2013
As well, my dentist suggested that I use Lysterine mounth wash to prevent Gingivitis. If you’re gums bleed a lot during brushing then a healthy dose of Vitamin C will help to reduce the bleeding.
I would suggest more emphasis on flossing as well as brushing. When I clean my teeth, they just don’t feel clean unless I’ve flossed. Also, flossing goes a long way in maintaining the health of your gums at the base of your teeth.
And with a little practice, this can be done in a couple of minutes without the aid of a mirror. My suggestion would to be a big, commercial pack of floss that works for you–some people like waxed, others don’t–that way you’re not having to purchase floss every 3 months.
Happy Trucking!
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Response from Vicki:
Hi, Rick,
Thanks for your comment.
I’m sure that you know that professional truck drivers need to be careful about using any kind of mouthwash that contains alcohol.
If a trucker “blows” anything other than a “0” on a breathalyzer test, it could spell real trouble for his or her driving career.
There may be alcohol-free commercial mouthwashes available.
For the frugal types, it is worthwhile to explore making and using a homemade mouth wash. Recipes can be found online.
Thanks again.
Best regards,
Vicki Simons
https://truck-drivers-money-saving-tips.com/
—– Comment —–
Teethbrushing by Ingrid
Date: Jun 22, 2014
Hi,my hubby has been a long haul truck driver for 25 years. He has developed a neat way to keep his teeth healthy:
He starts with 2 500ml water bottles, one empty and one with a couple of inches of clean water in it.
He dips his toothbrush into the one containing water to wet it, the adds a little toothpaste to the brush.
Brushes his teeth.
When its time to “spit”, he does so into the empty bottle! Takes a swig of clean water to swish, then spits into the other bottle again!
During the day if he wants to freshen his breath he will take a swig from the bottle of a mouthwash bottle (non-alcoholic), then spits into the waste water bottle from the morning.
At the end of the day the waste water bottle goes into the trash.
This is a great way when you don’t have a porta pottie!
Happy, and safe Truckin’!
