The start of the New Year is a time for making resolutions, right?! Most people seem to make them about diet, weight loss, working out, reading more… but what if you made a few resolutions to help your teeth! We’ve come up with the Top 10 ways you can help your smile in 2023.
Top 10 Resolutions
Even if all 10 resolutions do not apply to you, if you can make two to three changes this year it can do wonders for your teeth!
- Brush for the Full Two Minutes – Set a timer on your phone to make sure you are brushing for the full two minutes morning and nighttime. We guess you may not be brushing long enough!
- Floss Daily – We know this is probably everyone’s least favorite. But it is so important for your teeth. If you don’t like regular floss, consider purchasing flossers that are easier to hold and use.
- Less Sugar – Cut down on one sugary drink a day. This can help reduce the possibility of cavities.
- Mouthwash – Add swishing mouthwash to your daily brushing routine. At night is a great time to add it in before bedtime. You can also use mouthwash in between brushings (at work after lunch, etc) throughout the day to help your mouth stay clean.
- Water – Keep yourself hydrated. Water is important for your body and is also important for your teeth. A leading cause of dry mouth is not drinking enough water!
- Stop Smoking – One of the worst things you can do to your teeth is to continue to smoke. It can increase your risk of tooth loss and gum disease. If you have implants, smoking can increase the risk of implant failure.
- Staining Foods – Be careful with certain foods you eat as they can be culprits for staining your teeth. While teeth whitening is always an option, if you can limit certain items like dark sodas, tea, red wine or dark beers it can help keep your teeth stay brighter.
- Dental Cleaning – Maintain your dental cleanings every six months. This will help keep your teeth healthy with a professional clean and also ensure an extra check to be sure you do not have any cavities.
- Electric Toothbrush – Invest in an electric toothbrush. Not only do they let you know if you are brushing too hard, they will alert you when the full two minutes is up for brushing.
- Tongue Scraper – While brushing your tongue is always advised, very gently using a tongue scraper is even better. It will help to remove all the bacteria on our tongue.
Questions? Contact Us.
Give us a call with any questions or schedule your first regular dental cleaning for this year. We can’t wait to see your smile!