As you start thinking about your New Year’s resolutions, you will want to consider the various ways in which you can improve your health. Your oral health can certainly have a substantial impact on your general health, so it is important to keep this in mind as you come up with your list of resolutions.
There are several resolutions and changes in your habits you can make that can significantly improve the health of your teeth. Keep reading to discover some of the most effective resolutions and changes that you can make to benefit your oral health this year.
Resolution #1: Visit Your Dentist for Cleanings
Regular dental cleanings are an essential component of maintaining healthy teeth. As you begin to think about the resolutions you can make to improve the health of your teeth, you will want to schedule your regular dental cleanings with us. These appointments help to keep your teeth in superior condition throughout your lifetime.
Due to this, it is essential to ensure that you visit Leavitt Dentistry twice every year for the appropriate cleanings and routine exams. Our team can gauge the current condition of your teeth and provide you with guidance to improve your oral health.
Resolution #2: Floss Daily
Flossing is an oft-overlooked part of a good oral hygiene routine. Many people stop flossing when it causes their gums to bleed, which is a sure indication that you need to be flossing more often.
Make a New Year’s resolution to thoroughly floss every day. When you begin to floss on a regular basis, you help to remove harmful food particles that can become stuck in the crevices of your teeth. This helps to minimize tooth decay, gum disease, and many other potential problems. When you floss regularly, you can often keep your teeth in much better condition.
Resolution #3: Stop Smoking
Smoking is extremely detrimental to both your oral health and your overall health. When you smoke, you increase your chances of developing multiple types of cancer. Smoking can also cause gum disease, staining of the teeth, and many other oral health concerns. For all of these reasons, it is extremely beneficial to make quitting smoking one of your top New Year’s resolutions. This can benefit your oral health, as well as your overall health.
Resolution #4: Increase the Amount of Fruits and Vegetables in Your Diet
Your diet has a huge impact on the health of your teeth. When you increase the amount of fruits and vegetables that you consume, you will likely be able to see substantial improvements in your oral health. These foods contain significant amounts of nutrients that aid in maintaining oral health. In addition, some of the textures of these fruits or vegetables, like apples, can help to clean harmful particles from the surface of the teeth. Finally, fruits and vegetables are foods that contain high water content, which helps you flush bacteria and food particles away from your teeth.
Resolution #5: Reduce Your Sugar Consumption
Sugar is one of the leading causes of tooth decay. When you regularly consume a great deal of sugar, you will likely see the impact on your teeth. If you are like most people, there is a high chance that you have consumed a significant amount of sugar over the holiday season. By attempting to reduce the consumption of sugar, you can help to improve the health of your teeth. As with quitting smoking, this is another strategy that can help to improve your overall health, as well. Limiting your sugar intake can be incredibly beneficial in improving your oral health and can even aid in weight loss.
Resolution #6: Stay Hydrated
Hydration is a strategy that can help you to kill two birds with one stone. When you focus on drinking water regularly throughout the day, you can flush food particles from the surface of your teeth, which can prevent damage.
In addition, hydration helps to prevent your mouth from drying out. When you have a dry mouth, it is easier for bacteria to replicate inside this environment, which tends to allow them to cause more damage to your teeth. When you stay hydrated, you can prevent damage and improve your health.
Resolution #7: Have a Consistent Oral Hygiene Routine
Taking care of your teeth is an extremely important component of maintaining good oral health. Even if you have developed a good oral hygiene routine, it is important to ensure that you are consistent at following this routine. For example, if you skip a day of brushing your teeth, you are allowing the bacteria and harmful particles to remain on your teeth for 24 hours. This is 24 hours in which damage can occur to your teeth. Consistency helps to reduce problems and strengthen your smile.
Resolution #8: Reduce Your Alcohol Intake
Alcohol can be incredibly detrimental to your overall and oral health. When you drink alcohol regularly, the sugar is likely to cause damage to your teeth. Overconsumption of alcohol can lead to vomiting, which can also damage your teeth. By limiting your alcohol intake, you can help to reduce problems that can otherwise impact your smile. While this doesn’t necessarily require quitting completely, reducing your alcohol consumption can be extremely beneficial.
Resolution #9: Replace Your Toothbrush
When you allow your toothbrush to wear down, it will become less effective at removing harmful particles from the surface of your teeth. It is essential to ensure that you replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months or whenever it begins to show signs of wear to ensure that it can continue to do its job effectively. You may want to consider purchasing enough toothbrushes for the entire year so that it will be easier to replace your toothbrush as soon as it becomes necessary.
Achieve a Healthier You
Following these steps will surely provide major benefits to your oral health. Our experienced team at Leavitt Dentistry can help to provide you with thorough cleanings and guidance to improve the health of your smile. For more information about the right oral health resolutions to make for your smile, contact our professionals at Leavitt Dentistry today!
