Setting goals for yourself can be a great thing. On that note, so can New Year’s resolutions. Especially when they involve attempting to improve your health or maybe your financial situation.
When you commit to improving your oral health, it can improve your overall quality of life and save you a pretty penny when it comes to paying for dental treatments after you’ve developed problems. You can alter your daily regimen, and before long you’ve changed a problematic behavior without even thinking about it.
Keep reading for suggestions on New Year’s resolutions for a healthy smile from your dentist in Selbyville.
Resolution #1: Visit Your Dentist Twice Each Year
The best way to stop dental issues in their tracks is to detect them early or prevent them from happening in the first place. Regular visits to your dentist for a cleaning and exam will help ensure that no dental issues go unnoticed or worsen into something more serious.
Resolution #2: Make Healthier Choices with Your Diet
Your diet can have a significant impact on your oral health. Steps to improve your diet can include limiting your consumption of sugary or acidic foods and beverages, reducing snacking, rinsing your mouth with water after having meals or sugary drinks, and eating lots of fruits and veggies.
Resolution #3: Combat Dry Mouth
Your saliva is crucial to maintaining the health of your teeth and gums, as it provides your enamel with minerals, neutralizes acidity, and helps wash away food matter and debris. Fortunately, there are many ways to reduce dry mouth, such as chewing sugar-free gum or drinking milk to increase saliva production, drinking water regularly and especially before bed, and avoiding excessive alcohol consumption or using illegal drugs.
Resolution #4: Quit Using Tobacco Products
Smoking and the use of other tobacco products invites oral health problems and stains your teeth. Nicotine is highly addictive but consulting a medical professional for insight on quitting can help you break free of the urge.
Resolution #5: Implement Helpful Oral Hygiene Habits
Some examples of stellar dental care to power up your smile include gently brushing twice each day with a soft-bristled toothbrush, holding your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to your gumline, using fluoride toothpaste, flossing, or utilizing an interdental brush once per day, and rinsing with mouthwash after brushing.
Following through on New Year’s resolutions to enhance your health is an excellent, money-saving choice. Allow yourself enough time for your new routine to morph into habits. For more helpful ideas, talk to your Selbyville dentist!
About the Author
Dr. James Kramer is proud to have earned a Mastership in the Academy of General Dentistry, which is an honor achieved by fewer than five percent of all dentists in the U.S. He has also attended advanced restorative training at both the world-renowned Dawson Academy and the Chesapeake Dental Education Center. Dr. Kramer loves the idea of you setting New Year’s resolutions to better your oral health. He’s ready to help you out with the one that involves a dental cleaning and exam, which you can schedule on his website or by calling (302) 436-5133.