Dental Health Resolutions to Try for the New Year
Dental health is one of the most important aspects of your total wellness and what better time to focus on its improvement than the New Year? It’s the perfect time to come up with resolutions for taking better care of your health. For some people, this may include brushing their teeth every day or finally completing that long delayed dental appointment. To make a resolution more motivating and rewarding, it is important that you understand its benefits for your health. Also, small steps are a lot better than no steps taken at all. If you practice consistency in reaching your goals, you can be successful with your New Year’s resolution.
Your Toothbrush and Flossing Game
One of the ways you can improve your oral health is by stepping up your tooth brushing and flossing routine. Remember that the best way to remove bacterial plaque is by brushing your teeth at least twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a toothpaste preferably with fluoride. Here are some tips on how to improve your tooth brushing form: position your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle towards your gum line and move your toothbrush across your teeth in order to remove plaque build-up effectively. As for flossing, it must be done at least once a day to help remove accumulated food particles as well as bacterial plaque in between teeth. Replace your toothbrush every three to four months or at least once you see the bristles have frayed. Proper brushing and flossing helps keep gingivitis, halitosis and tooth decay at bay and you can also consider the use of an antimicrobial or fluoride month rinse to further help your journey to an improved dental health.
Healthier food and beverage choices
Another important area you need to look into if you wish to improve your dental health for the new year is the type of food and drinks you consume. Too much carbohydrates and acids in your diet may lead to tooth decay so it is vital to brush your teeth right after snacking on those chips or colas. Sticking to fruits and vegetables for snacks can help keep tooth decay away so stock up on your apples and cucumbers. You may try some gum with Xylitol or a lozenge after meals to help reduce bacteria and plaque build-up in your mouth.
A Smile that Dazzles
While your smile is surely captivating as it is, there are still some boosts that you can employ if you want your teeth to surely dazzle. Teeth whitening is something that has continued to gain popularity because of its ability to enhance the appearance of teeth by wiping away intrinsic (deep) or extrinsic (surface) stains. If this is something that you wish to try, there are a lot of teeth whitening products that you may buy over-the-counter or visit your dentist for. These products are usually grouped under Whitening toothpastes (dentifrices) or Peroxide-containing bleaching agents. Here are the known teeth whitening methods:
- Bleaching products applied by professionals
- Whitening toothpaste
- Dentist-dispensed or OTC products for home use
- Peroxide-containing bleaching products
See your Dentist
Whatever methods you choose to employ for healthier teeth and gums this New Year’s, keep in mind that a visit to your dentist may be the most important step of all. Only your dentist can pinpoint a problem in its early stage and can effectively come up with a treatment that is best for you. Make it a habit to visit your dental practitioner at least twice a year in order to reach your optimal dental health.
