New year, new you, new smile. While “lose weight” and “get more organized” are common resolutions, one of the best things you can do for your health and well-being is to take care of your teeth. Taking care of your teeth can involve:
- Brushing your teeth
- Flossing
- Cutting down on sugar
- Drinking more water
- Seeing your dentist regularly
Essential Dental of Roslyn can help you get and stay on track with your resolutions for better dental and oral health. Begin 2023 off on the right foot by having your teeth cleaned and evaluated.
Brush Twice a Day
Regarding resolutions, it’s best to start with the basics. Brushing your teeth twice a day with toothpaste is essential to maintaining healthy teeth, gums, and a bright smile. In the morning, it not only eliminates “morning gas”, but also the bacteria in the mouth that cause bad breath, tooth decay, and gum disease. At night, brushing your teeth is even more critical. Any small amount of sugar in food or drink can stick to your teeth and breed bacteria that produce acids that break down tooth enamel and cause tooth decay and cavities.
Floss Once a Day
Make sure you floss your teeth regularly. This is crucial to maintaining teeth and gum health because it removes debris and particles from places that brushing can’t reach. Whether you utilize a water flosser or a traditional flossing method, make sure you utilize it every night to get between and behind your teeth, where food particles are trapped.
Say Goodbye to Sugary Drinks
It’s no secret that sugary drinks are detrimental to your health. Sugar facilitates the growth of bacteria, which in turn releases an acid that erodes your enamel. If you consume a piece of candy, it will be gone in a few minutes and you can drink some water to clean your mouth. Sugary drinks are particularly detrimental to your teeth because they prolong the exposure to sugar. If you’re sipping on a soda during the afternoon, this is more harmful than 5 minutes of eating a small portion of dessert.
Drink More Water
Drinking more water seems like a logical progression if you’re eliminating sugary beverages. Additionally, drinking water rinses away debris and sugar from your teeth. Hydration promotes saliva production, which is crucial to maintaining your teeth’s cleanliness between brushing. Water that is fluoridated has fluoride, which increases the hardness of your teeth and increases the number of minerals in your teeth.
Visit Your Dentist Twice This Year
You should have a dental examination and cleaning every 6 months, so make it a goal to visit your dentist professionally twice this year. By doing this, any tartar will be removed and your dentist will notice any issues, such as small cavities or minor gum problems that are present before they become serious issues, such as a broken tooth or gingivitis.
When you implement all of these resolutions, you can have confidence that your smile will remain healthy and vibrant throughout the year. Schedule a Checkup with Essential Dental of Roslyn today. Reach us at (516) 621-2430. We are here to help.
