A new year usually comes along with making resolutions to improve your health and wellness. An aspect of overall health that many people may not consider is oral hygiene! You can easily set attainable goals when it comes to your dental habits in 2020 from flossing more frequently to making the necessary dental appointment for a cleaning. So, if you have made it one of your goals to improve your oral hygiene in the new year, here are a few worthy tips to follow in order to stay consistent and maintain a healthy smile.
1. Choose healthy food and beverages
An important part of achieving good oral hygiene involves making conscious decisions about the food and beverages that you choose to consume. If you are frequently consuming sugary beverages or acidic ones, this can quickly contribute to tooth decay. On the other hand, if you are regularly eating foods that are sticky substances and also contain high amounts of sugar, this can also lead to the break down of your teeth’s surface. Therefore, it’s important to pick healthier beverages and food choices so that you can maintain the integrity of your teeth. If you do decide to indulge in unhealthy options, be sure to brush your teeth directly after eating or drinking to remove the sugars and acids that can build up on your teeth.
2. Improve flossing and brushing habits
We all know that it’s important to regularly brush and floss our teeth, but it can still be something that we forget to do. The standard recommendation is to brush your teeth at least twice a day along with flossing at least one time throughout the day. Doing these two things regularly will greatly help your teeth fight off plaque that can quickly build up on the surface of the teeth and cause many dental issues for you. There are many different dental tips that should be considered when working on improving your brushing and flossing in the new year.
3. Quit the use of tobacco products
One thing is certain – smoking and using any other tobacco products are not doing any kind of service to your overall health or your oral hygiene. Even if you are not actually smoking a cigarette per say, the use of other tobacco products can still have a very negative impact on your oral hygiene and overall health. Therefore, take the initiative in the new year to begin limiting the use of tobacco and smokeless tobacco products with the end goal of eventually being completely done. There are many different helpful resources that you can use to start your journey towards no longer smoking and improving your oral hygiene.
4. Schedule regular visits to your dentist
You should schedule a visit to your dentist at least two times per year or every 6 months for a bi-annual cleaning to check up on all aspects of your mouth. During these visits, your dentist will perform a variety of preventative exams and measures in order to catch any problems in their early stages before they turn into something worse. Therefore, regular dental visits are important in order to combat any issues or uncomfortable areas of your mouth and get on a healthy dental regimen.
5. Replace your toothbrush
While many people may not think to get a new toothbrush until their old one is frayed and old, there is actually a recommended amount of time to go by for replacing a toothbrush. The rule of thumb is that a toothbrush should be replaced every 2-3 months however, there are a couple circumstances that could make you change it sooner than this time period. For example, if you are sick, it’s especially important to get a new toothbrush as bacteria and other harmful germs can stay on the bristles of your toothbrush. Also, if you notice that the bristles on your toothbrush are beginning to become quite frayed, you should also change your toothbrush as worn bristles will lose their effectiveness when it comes to brushing.
Final Thoughts
While these are my top five tips for maintaining great oral hygiene in the new year, there are many other things that you can do in addition to these in order to improve your smile. Overall, practicing good habits for your oral hygiene will not only help in preventing illnesses such as gum disease or oral cancer, but it will also help contribute to your overall health and wellness. Regardless of what your oral hygiene goals might be in this new year, it’s important to begin taking small steps in order to achieve your goals. Stay consistent in reaching your goals and eventually it will become second nature for you to always practice good oral hygiene habits.
Get a jumpstart on your oral hygiene by visiting a dentist near me.
