5 New Year Resolutions for Healthier Teeth
In just a little over two weeks, we will say goodbye to 2016 and set our sights on a New Year, full of hope, possibilities and plans. At A+ Dental, the coming of a new year signifies an opportunity for us to help our patients achieve improved dental health, even if they have been neglectful of their teeth and gums in the past.
Many of us make New Year Resolutions, which reflect our hopes for positive changes we hope to make over the coming year. More often than not, our resolutions tend toward self-improvement, and resolutions can sometimes be hard to keep! Here are five New Year Resolutions for healthier teeth and gums that will have a positive impact on your dental health.
1. Make and keep regular dental appointments. Getting your teeth professionally cleaned and examined every six months will not only reduce the risk of developing advanced tooth decay and gum disease, but it makes it possible to detect minor dental problems before they turn into more serious ones, which can be more expensive to repair. Another reason to get regular dental cleanings: Your teeth and gums look and feel so shiny and clean afterward!
2. Make it a point to floss. Flossing every day is recommended in order to remove food particles and plaque build-up between teeth and along the gum line, which cannot be reached with a toothbrush. Flossing helps prevent decay between your teeth, and helps prevent gum disease. Dentists preach daily flossing, but taking the extra minute or two to clean between teeth at least a few times a week is better than not doing it at all.
3. Stop drinking sodas- even diet sodas. Sugar is the most damaging food to teeth. Oral bacteria love sugar, and thrive on a steady supply of it in the warm, moist environment of your mouth. Reducing the amount of sugar you consume both in foods and drinks can reduce your risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Sodas, even diet ones, pack an added punch. Sodas are high in acid, which breaks down tooth enamel, making your teeth more susceptible to decay. Avoid acidic, sugar-filled beverages and you will be doing your teeth and your body a healthy favor.
4. Eat more fruits and vegetables. Foods with a crunch, that are high in fiber, are great for your teeth! Biting into an apple, a carrot, or celery stick helps clean your teeth between brushing. Crunching on fresh vegetables and fruits stimulates saliva production, which helps wash away food particles which can remain behind and cause cavities. Other dental-friendly foods include dairy like cheeses, which contain calcium, and can actually help fight bacteria.
5. Stop Using Tobacco Products. Smoking and chewing tobacco can not only cause oral cancer, but their use is proven to damage gum health. Quitting smoking now can not only have a huge impact on your dental health, but will help you reclaim your overall health as well. This may not be the easiest resolution on the list, but it certainly is one of the most effective.
If your goal is to improve or maintain your healthy smile, you must brush and floss regularly, see your dentist regularly, eat a healthy diet and stop using tobacco products. The coming New Year is an opportunity to make positive changes. Dr. Babaloui and her team can help you stick to your dental- resolutions.
From all of us here at A+ Dental, we wish you a joyful, beautiful holiday season and a Happy New Year!
