The best time to improve your dental health is right now. In fact, the sooner you start taking better care of your smile, the happier and healthier you’ll be.
Optimal oral health can be achieved with just a handful of achievable habits, which we will discuss in this article. If you follow these 11 New Year’s resolutions, your mouth will be on the path to health.
Brushing your teeth is extremely important for your oral health. It plays a crucial role in preventing the development of cavities, gingivitis, and other oral health conditions.
Furthermore, patients who brush two times per day have significantly healthier mouths and encounter far fewer problems than those who only brush once a day. It really makes a huge difference!
This new year, resolve to brush your teeth twice a day and see your oral health improve. You should brush in the morning before breakfast, and again in the evening after dinner.
You should also learn the right way to brush your teeth. Yes, there is a right and a wrong way! The best technique is to hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle toward the gum line and brush in tight circular motions.
Don’t brush too aggressively since this can harm your tooth enamel. Gentle is best. Make sure that you’re brushing for a full two minutes, as well. This is essential for effectively removing plaque, food debris, and bacteria.
Using the wrong type of toothbrush can actually cause more harm than good. Hard-bristled toothbrushes wear down the crucial enamel on your teeth, making you more prone to tooth decay and sensitivity. Therefore, you should exclusively use soft-bristled toothbrushes.
You should replace your toothbrush every three months or whenever the bristles begin to look frayed. If your toothbrushes rarely last a full three months, that’s a sign you could be brushing too hard.
Too many patients think that they can get away with not flossing. However, your dentist can always tell.
Flossing removes tough-to-reach food particles, sugars, starches, and plaque, thus making it an essential part of your at-home oral hygiene routine. Brushing alone can’t effectively reach the tight spaces between your teeth and along your gum line. Only flossing can do that.
When you floss, you’re fighting against the development of plaque and tartar. This makes your mouth healthier and means your dentist is less likely to discover a cavity during your next appointment.
Rinsing with mouthwash helps remove stubborn food debris and sugars that can make your mouth an unhealthy, unhappy place. These residues feed the bacteria in your mouth, producing an acidic environment ripe for the development of cavities.
When you rinse with mouthwash, you’re washing away these problematic particles and safeguarding your long-term oral health.
Keeping a travel-sized mouthwash with you makes it easy to rinse your mouth after meals or snacks. It’s a great alternative to brushing throughout the day since brushing too much can damage your enamel.
You need to stay on top of your oral hygiene at all times, including when you travel. Putting together a separate oral healthcare kit can help.
Get a second toothbrush, floss kit, travel-sized toothpaste, and travel-sized mouthwash, and place it in a toiletry bag that stays in your go-to suitcase or travel backpack. That way, you’ll never forget your toothbrush when packing in a hurry. Wherever you go, you’ll have everything you need to take care of your smile.
Drinking lots of water benefits your overall and oral health, especially if you’re choosing water over sugary liquids like fruit juice or pop.
Every time you take a sip of water, you’re washing away some of the lingering food particles, sugars, and bacteria that can cause cavities and gingivitis. When you stay hydrated throughout the day, your mouth is less acidic and better protected against tooth decay.
If you’re indulging in something sweet, drinking water afterwards is a good idea. It flushes out the sugar residues that would otherwise stick to your teeth. Rinsing with water also helps mitigate the staining effects of certain beverages, like red wine and coffee.
The start of the new year is the perfect time to cut back on your alcohol consumption. Ultimately, alcohol is not good for anyone’s health. The less you drink, the better you’ll feel, and the healthier your mouth will be.
Since alcohol is highly acidic, consuming it can erode your tooth enamel and cause tooth decay. Some types of alcohol are also very high in sugar, which further feeds the bacteria in your mouth and promotes cavities.
Eating a healthy, balanced diet that’s rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and protein is very helpful for your oral health.
Many of these foods are full of crucial vitamins and minerals which keep your teeth healthy and strong. Although you should minimize your intake of fruit juices (you’re essentially bathing your teeth in sugar), whole fruits are very good for you.
If you want to be healthier in 2024, quit smoking and using tobacco products. Not only do these products stain and yellow your teeth, they also increase your risk of serious oral health conditions like cancer and gum disease. Tobacco is catastrophic for your health and the appearance of your smile.
You should visit your Oakville dentist every six months, so twice a year (unless you have an oral health condition that needs closer monitoring and regular treatment). These routine checkups are vital for your oral health.
Your dentist at Oakville Place Dental looks for developing problems so that they can be quickly and effectively treated. Plus, you receive a thorough cleaning that removes plaque and tartar, and that leaves your smile looking brighter and feeling better than before.
When was the last time you visited your dentist at Oakville Place Dental? If it’s been more than six months, then you’re overdue for a checkup and professional cleaning.
We also offer a range of dental services, including cosmetic procedures, teeth whitening, periodontics, and emergency dental services.
To make an appointment with your Oakville dentist, call Oakville Place Dental at 905-842-6030 or contact us here.
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