Are you ready to start your New Year off right? Whether or not you make a list of New Year resolutions, January is a great time to focus on your goals for the upcoming year, and what better goal could you have than improved oral health! We’ve assembled this list of tips to help set you on the path to healthy teeth and gums in the New Year.
- Tip #1: Call your dentist. If you haven’t already scheduled your next professional exam and cleaning appointment, the start of the New Year is a great time to do so. Remember how important regular trips to the dentist are for your oral health. No matter how diligent you may be with your own daily oral hygiene routine at home, you still need to have a dental professional clean your teeth twice a year. And your dentist will need to perform periodic oral exams to identify any problems as early on as possible.
- Tip #2: Stick with your own hygiene routine – no matter what. When it comes to good oral health, consistency is absolutely vital. You need to keep up with your oral hygiene routine each and every day, regardless of anything else that may be happening in your life. Brush at least twice a day, and floss at least once a day. Consider adding additional steps to your routine that will benefit your oral health, such as using an anti-bacterial mouthwash and/or a water flosser.
- Tip #3: Watch your diet. The foods you eat and the beverages you drink have a tremendous impact on your teeth and gums. Reduce the amount of sugar in your diet over the coming year. Replace soda with water or another sugar-free beverage. Enjoy more fruits and vegetables (apples, carrots and celery are especially beneficial for your teeth), and indulge in dairy products that are not only delicious but loaded with tooth-healthy calcium.
- Tip #4: Quit using tobacco products. Whether you smoke it or chew it, tobacco wreaks havoc on your oral health. Not only will it stain your teeth, it also significantly increases your risk of forming oral cancer. So do whatever is necessary to kick the tobacco habit once and for all. If you have problems doing it on your own, talk to your doctor or dentist about ways to quit. Saying goodbye to tobacco in the New Year will not only benefit your oral health, but your overall health as well.
The New Year is a great time to leave behind bad habits and establish new positive habits in their place. So follow these tips to make this year the healthiest year ever for your teeth and gums!
