Water Conservation Tips for Oral Health Routines
Four Tips to Help Save Water While Brushing
Although three-quarters of our planet is made up of water, there is only about one percent that is clean enough for us to use. With such a small amount of usable water available, it becomes increasingly important to conserve as much water as possible. While we know to take shorter showers, wash dishes quickly, and not water our lawns during a drought, what small changes can we make to our oral hygiene routines to help conserve water when we brush our teeth both in the morning and at night?
Never Let the Water Run
When brushing teeth, it is not necessary to let the sink water run. A great way to save water is to turn off the faucet when brushing and only use the water to wet and then rinse your toothbrush and to fill up a rinsing cup if you use one. Keeping the faucet on and allowing the water to run while brushing your teeth can use as much as four gallons of precious water every year – good water right down the drain!
Use a Reusable Cup
Many of us simply cup our hands to collect water in order to rinse out our mouths after brushing. While this may seem more economical than using a cup, it actually wastes much more water, not to mention it allows the germs from your hands to get into your mouth! Instead of using your hands, use a paper or, preferably, a reusable cup with water to rinse out your mouth after brushing teeth.
Check the Pipes
While you are brushing your teeth, is a great time to check the sink and pipes to determine if they are leaking. A dripping or leaky faucet can waste just as much water as letting the water run while brushing. Additionally, you may want to consider upgrading your faucet to something more water-friendly – newer faucet heads use half as much water per minute as older ones.
Don’t Waste Water
If your sink needs a few minutes for the water to adjust to the right temperature, do not let all of that water go to waste while you’re waiting! While the water is adjusting temperature, capture the water in a large pitcher or cup and use it for something else, like watering plants, filling a pet’s water bowl, or using it for your rinsing cup. This is a great way to “kill two birds with one stone” by saving water!
If you have any oral health concerns or are simply in need of a trip to the dentist, you can always sign up for our New Hampshire Individual Discount Dental Plan to save as much as 20 percent on all your dental bills. For more information, please click here.
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