At this time of year, many people think about making resolutions that often fall by the wayside within a week or two. If this sounds familiar, instead of setting yourself up to fail, why not make resolutions that only involve small changes, are easy to keep, but can provide excellent rewards? When you make resolutions to improve your oral care, you can reap the benefits of having a nicer and healthier smile. At the same time, looking after your dental health in Oshawa can save you time and money.
Making the Most of a Brand-New Year
It is a wonderful time to make positive changes, and provided you commit to making them part of your routine, these can quickly become habits. Small changes that enhance your daily oral care routine, quitting or avoiding harmful behaviours and reassessing your dietary choices can make a real difference to your long-term dental health.
An added benefit is the potential effect on your overall health. Gum disease is a common gum infection that is increasingly linked to serious health conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis, respiratory diseases and dementia.
As with establishing any new habit, consistency is important, so resolve to stick to your new changes until they become permanent and part of your everyday routine. You might find it more rewarding than you think; for example, cleaning between your teeth each day is an essential task many people avoid. However, if you persevere with daily flossing in Whitby, it won’t be long before you notice the benefits. Gums that may have bled slightly or felt sensitive as you flossed will soon become stronger and look and feel healthier. It’s a great incentive to keep going.
Your daily oral care routine should include the following:
- Brushing your teeth gently twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush for at least two minutes each time using fluoride toothpaste
- Cleaning between your teeth once a day using dental floss, an interdental brush or a flossing device like a WaterPik
As you can see, it is hardly arduous and typically takes less than 10 minutes to complete.
Making Healthier Diet Choices
Your diet can make a huge difference to your dental health in Ajax, especially if you frequently snack between meals or choose foods that feed harmful bacteria in your mouth, potentially increasing the risk of gum disease and tooth decay.
Steps to improving your diet choices could include:
- Including more fruits and vegetables and other nutrient-dense foods
- Reducing snacking between meals
- Reducing your consumption of acidic or sugary foods and drinks
- Ensuring your diet contains enough vitamins and minerals to keep your teeth strong
Most people know what they should be eating, but you can always ask our friendly dental team at Margolian Dentistry for helpful advice. The information could be especially useful if you have recently developed problems with cavities that could be avoided by making small dietary changes.
Keep Up to Date with Your Professional Dental Care
Ensuring you come to see us regularly for checkups and hygiene appointments is essential if you want to maintain good dental health. We can make sure any small problems are detected and treated promptly, and we can also discuss any dental health concerns and answer your questions. Routine dental checkups are the best and most effective way to save money in the longer term, not to mention time.
Quitting Smoking
Smoking and using other tobacco products is bad for oral health, increasing your risk of dental problems, including gum disease, tooth decay and oral cancer. Nicotine can be a hard habit to quit, but make the most of all the professional help and perhaps put aside the money you normally spend on cigarettes on something more enjoyable like a professional tooth whitening treatment to celebrate your success.
