Every year, you go through the same process. You make resolutions and stick to them for the first month or two. Then, for various reasons, your resolutions fall by the wayside.
This year is going to be different! Why? You’re going to make goals that you can easily achieve. You can set the resolution to have a healthier mouth and accomplish this resolution through minimal, but important efforts throughout the year. Read on to learn how you can make this year successful with a healthier smile!
Flossing Every Day
While flossing may seem like a tedious task to have to do daily, it is essential for keeping your teeth and gums strong and healthy. Did you know that brushing can leave up to 40 percent of plaque on your teeth?
Toothbrush bristles can’t reach into the tight spaces in between, leaving bacteria and plaque buildup to form and harden. This can cause gum disease, which is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. By flossing every day, you can significantly reduce your chances of getting this damaging infection.
Eating or Drinking Less Sugar
Although at-home care is important, your diet plays a vital role in keeping the microbiome in your mouth under control. If you’re already watching what you eat to help your waistline, you’re also helping your oral health. Sugar, in addition to encouraging inflammation throughout the body, can be detrimental to your smile. Harmful bacteria in your mouth love sugary foods and drinks, increasing the likelihood of cavities and gum disease.
In addition to staying away from sugary food, you need to make sure you’re consuming plenty of healthy, nutrient-rich food options that can strengthen your smile against infection and decay. These foods include leafy greens, broccoli, cheese, apples, carrots, celery, and the like.
Drinking More Water
Hundreds of studies have shown how beneficial drinking water can be for your heart and many other systems in your body. The mouth is no exception. Water neutralizes eroding acids and can rinse bacteria, bits of food, and plaque from your teeth, preventing many issues.
Sometimes, people think that sports drinks or other beverages are good for them, but the truth is that no other fluid does everything water does. Instead of choosing sugar-filled drinks, reach for a cool glass of water and take sips throughout the day, and your smile, and your dentist, will thank you.
Going to Dental Checkups Regularly
Even if you follow the previous tips exactly as recommended, these efforts are still not enough to keep your smile completely healthy in the long term. At some point, you may miss some plaque, and once it hardens onto your teeth, only a trained professional can get it off.
But don’t get discouraged! That’s why you should see the dentist at least every six months. Not only can they remove tartar buildup to prevent future issues, but they can also check for small problems you may not have noticed yet. As a result, you can avoid dental emergencies, which is always a good thing.
When 2023 comes around, you want to be able to look back and say that you’ve accomplished something important in 2022. You can when you prioritize your oral health and implement these tips into your lifestyle!
About the Practice
At Devonshire Dental Associates, we have the privilege of four experts on our team. Two are specialists, and two are general dentists. Although our entire team is devoted to helping patients achieve healthy smiles, Dr. Dean Levy and Dr. Christa Rizkallah meet with patients for preventive care on a regular basis. If you need to schedule a dental checkup and cleaning, you can contact our Boston practice online or by calling the office at 617-350-7474.