The Dental Spa Right From Your Home!
When we practice self-care, we might first resort to attending to the needs of our mental or physical health. Some of us might practice meditation, perhaps go to the gym, or maybe take a trip to get a massage. But self-care is more than just your mind or your body; it includes your teeth as well! Properly caring for dental hygiene can become more than just a morning and evening necessity but rather a positive experience that helps both our health and our minds!
Defining Self Care
Self-care means something different to everyone, and that meaning can change based on what we are experiencing at any given moment. For the World Health Organization, self-care is defined as “a broad concept which encompasses hygiene (general and personal); nutrition (type and quality of food eaten); lifestyle (sporting activities, leisure, etc.); environmental factors (living conditions, social habits, etc.); socioeconomic factors (income level, cultural beliefs, etc.); and self-medication.” Dental care encompasses several of these aspects including hygiene, lifestyle, and can even tap into nutrition!
Dental Care And Hygiene
Hygiene is self-explanatory – brushing our teeth prevents us from getting cavities, gingivitis, and other oral diseases that can cause great harm to us. Studies have even shown that brushing twice a day can help to prevent diseases associated with age including heart disease and Alzheimer’s! Furthermore, practicing good dental care keeps our teeth shiny and white.
Aside from preventing a number of oral health complications, keeping our teeth clean and our breath smelling fresh can also help to improve self-confidence which will inherently impact other aspects of our lives as well!
Dental Care and Lifestyle
It is no secret that habits are wildly important to shaping many aspects of our lives. Our brains are wired to cling to our habits above all else. In fact, more than 40 percent of the actions you perform each day aren’t actual decisions, but habits! When we create and stick to them, we form cues. When those cues are triggered our brains release ‘reward’ chemicals that further reinforce the behavior and make us feel good for performing it. The issue is that our brain cannot tell the difference between good and bad habits, so it is important to reinforce good practices.
By remembering to brush 2-3 times a day, use mouthwash, and floss once per day we create the habits that will allow us to not only protect our dental health but also reward ourselves through the release of positive chemicals in our brain. For this reason, it is important to remember to brush and floss, even if we’re returning from a long day of work, or a late night out! This enforces the routine as well as promotes discipline in our lives attributing to a healthier lifestyle.
Dental Care and Nutrition
The foods we eat have a lot to do with the condition of our teeth. Although sugar is not the main cause of decay, limiting the amount that we ingest can help to drastically improve our dental health. Additionally, instead of turning to acidic foods, incorporating more fruits excluding heavy ingestion of citrus, ones such as grapefruit and pineapple) and vegetables into your diet can not only keep you healthier, but also improve your dental health as well. Not only will your teeth be better off, but you will feel better knowing you chose a healthier option over sugary snacks!
Time To Treat Your Teeth
Brushing and flossing regularly doesn’t have to be something you need to do. Instead, it can become something you want to do! Knowing the benefits brushing provides both mentally and physically, can be exactly the push needed to enjoy the process of properly caring for your dental health. Flossing can also become a habit that can cue your brain to trigger reward chemicals as mentioned above, but is the most commonly missed part of a dental routine. A water pik provides similar benefits to flossing in it's self care capacity, so try either for a stretch of 21 days, the time it takes to develop a habit, and feel the positive vibes flow! Brushing, flossing, even using mouthwash can be looked at as an act of self-love rather than a requirement, and in shifting this perspective it may lead to improvements in other aspects of life as well!
Schedule An Appointment
Taking care of your teeth requires more than just brushing at home! Allow our team of experienced dentists and hygienists to clean the spots that are easy to miss with fast and safe dental appointments. Visit any of our Dental365 locations in New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey to schedule your next cleaning and exam. Contact us at (844) 365-DENTAL for more information or to schedule an appointment.
