5 Easy Dental New Year’s Resolutions

Start the year off right by making these five easy resolutions that will improve your oral health!

1. Commit to Brushing Your Teeth for the Full Two Minutes

The American Dental Association says you should be brushing your teeth for two minutes, twice a day. While many people brush their teeth twice a day, most do not brush for the full two minutes. For 2018, resolve to brush your teeth for the full recommended time. If you need some help in getting you through those two minutes, invest in an electric toothbrush that will alert you once the time is up. This is perhaps the easiest resolution you can make for your oral health!

2. Floss at Least Once a Day, Every Day

Flossing is an essential part of caring for your teeth. Cleaning between your teeth at least once a day removes plaque from your teeth. If plaque is not removed, you are at risk of developing prevent cavities, tooth decay, and gum disease. You can either use traditional floss or dental picks to clean between your teeth.

3. Watch Your Diet

A healthy diet doesn’t just reduce your waistband. By eating nutritious foods like fruits and vegetables, you can help prevent decay and gum disease. Snacks like candy, pretzels, and chips remain on the tooth’s surface. If left on your teeth, this can lead to serious dental health issues, so these snacks should be avoided as much as possible.

4. Chew Sugarless Gum

Research has shown that chewing sugarless gum can actually be good for your teeth. It can treat issues from as mild as bad breath to ones as serious as tooth decay. When you chew sugarless gum, you increase your salivary flow, and the more saliva in your mouth, the better. Saliva helps to wash away acids produced when food is broken down by bacteria in the mouth. Without saliva, the acid can break down tooth enamel, leading to decay. Studies show that chewing sugarless gum for 20 minutes after meals can help prevent tooth decay. More saliva can also mean more calcium and phosphate, which helps strengthen tooth enamel. Reach for that sugarless gum in 2018!

5. See Your Dentist for Regular Cleanings

An important part of good oral hygiene is seeing your dentist for regular check-ups and cleanings. It’s recommended to go in every six months, and many insurances cover these appointments.

These five easy dental New Year’s resolutions will keep your teeth in tip-top shape. Be sure to schedule an appointment with us in the new year!

Ring in the new year with a beautiful smile! – Contact Us

Categorised in: General Dentistry