The turning of the year elicits a host of resolutions, most of them focused on improving our health or our finances. In addition to losing those five pounds from end-of-year feasting and recovering from the holiday spending spree, you should also think about how you can improve your oral health and obtain a beautiful smile. Here are just a few resolutions to set you on the right path.
1. Commit to flossing and rinsing
It’s not uncommon for people to treat brushing as a mandate, but relegate flossing and rinsing with mouthwash to the realm of mere suggestion. Unfortunately, failing to floss and rinse after brushing can leave your mouth full of unseen food and bacteria between teeth and below the gum line. If you want a healthy smile, you really need to commit to daily flossing and rinsing with mouthwash this year.
2. Cut back on sweets
Sugar should be on your hit list if you want to improve your oral health in the coming year. The sugar in soda, candy, cookies, and other sweet treats clings to teeth and serves as the perfect meal for harmful bacteria, which multiply and do even more damage.
The plaque and tartar buildup that result could not only compromise the quality of your smile, but also lead to more serious concerns like gingivitis and periodontitis. Cutting back on sweets could significantly reduce the risk of such outcomes.
3. Address issues
Are your teeth discolored or misaligned? Do you suffer from pain, dry mouth, or halitosis? If you have oral issues that you’ve simply grown accustomed to, it’s never too late to address them, reverse undesirable conditions, and protect against future problems that could result otherwise.
4. See the dentist
As adults, we can definitely get busy and let personal maintenance fall by the wayside. Just think what might happen if you did this with your car. Without regular, professional inspection and oil change, your engine could cease to function. You need to take the same approach to your oral health.
Sure, you can practice good oral health habits at home, but you just can’t get between teeth and below the gum line the same way a dental professional can, and you certainly don’t have the expertise or equipment to perform a thorough inspection or take x-rays. If you want the best possible oral health this year and for years to come, regular dental visits are a must.
