Make a healthy smile part of your New Year's Resolutions! Setting goals to improve your life can be great things, whether that’s saving more money, getting in shape, or spending more time with family. When it comes to your oral health, there are many ways to maintain your beautiful smile. Keep reading for suggestions on New Year’s resolutions for a healthy smile from your local dentist in New Braunfels.
1) Drink More Water
Water hydrates your cells and rinses away excess food particles and bacteria in your mouth. A well-hydrated body produces more and healthier salvia, which is important for rinsing your teeth between brushing. How much water should you be drinking? To figure how much water you need, divide your weight in half and aim to drink that many ounces a day!
2) Get Your Fruits and Veggies
Resolve to add more healthy foods to your diet. Eating well is just as important to your dental health as it is for the rest of your body.. Poor nutrition can affect your whole immune system, making you more prone to some common oral disorders, like gum (periodontal) disease. The antioxidants and other nutrients found in fruits, vegetables, legumes and nuts can boost your body’s ability to fight bacteria and inflammation, which can help protect your teeth and gums. In addition, crisp fruits and raw vegetables with a high fiber content like apples, carrots and celery help clean plaque from teeth and freshen breath.
Read more about healthy foods here.
3) Quit Smoking
Using cigarettes and other tobacco products can increase your risk for tooth discoloration, cavities, gum recession, gum disease and throat, lung and oral cancer. Smokers are about twice as likely to lose their teeth as non-smokers. This also includes smokeless/chewing tobacco, which can be just as harmful to your oral health. The good news is that the risk of tooth loss decreases after you quit smoking or using smokeless tobacco.
Quitting smoking can be difficult, so talk to your doctor about strategies to help you kick the habit. Check out smokefree.gov for more resources.
4) Brush and Floss Daily
Brush twice each day with a soft-bristled toothbrush, using fluoride toothpaste, flossing once per day, and rinse with mouthwash after brushing.
Brushing and flossing protect your teeth from decay and gum disease, which is caused by your teeth’s most persistent enemy, plaque — a sticky, colorless, invisible film of harmful bacteria that builds up on your teeth every day. Both brushing and flossing are equally important for good oral health. Only flossing can remove plaque from between teeth and below the gumline, where decay and gum disease often begins.
Without proper brushing and flossing, you may develop bleeding gums, which may worsen to severely swollen, red, bleeding gums (gingivitis) and, eventually, gum disease. Because diseases of the mouth can affect the rest of your body, maintaining good oral health can help protect your whole body.
5) Straighten Up That Smile
Misaligned teeth may create excess hiding spaces for harmful bacteria. Crooked teeth may also make it difficult to properly and thoroughly brush and floss. Ineffective brushing and flossing increases your chances of plaque and tartar buildup. Over time, that plaque and tartar can create decay that can cause cavities and gum disease. Without treatment, both tooth decay and gum disease can progress into quite serious issues. Misaligned teeth can cause headaches and neck and jaw pain caused by pressure. A beautifully straight smile is also a great way to build confidence.
6) Schedule your Bi-annual Cleaning and Exam
Visiting the dentist twice a year is an important part of keeping your mouth healthy. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that you visit your dentist at least twice a year for a routine checkup. Regular cleaning and dental exams help maintain optimal oral health and identify any potential dental concerns before they have a chance to develop into something more serious. Most dental insurance plans renew at the beginning of the year, so it’s a perfect time to schedule your first appointment of the year.
Smile New Braunfels is here to help you keep your dental resolutions. Give us a call today to schedule your first dental appointment in 2023! (830) 629-8011
