Start The Year Right With A Brighter Smile
There is no better time than the start of the new year to get on top of new goals and resolutions. And why not set a resolution for a brighter and happier smile this year? Setting a new year's resolution to take care of your teeth and smile can set you on an early path of both social and financial wins by boosting confidence with whiter teeth and avoiding costly dental visits for emergency treatment or the possibility of oral surgery. There are a number of healthy dental habits you can begin right away to start 2023 but the start to healthier habits begins with you.
Brushing Regularly
According to the American Dental Association (ADA) 31% of adults only brush their teeth once per day and 75% of millennials only brush once per day! With these statistics it shouldn’t be surprising that nearly 80% of Americans suffer from gum disease, a condition that can easily be avoided with just 2 minutes extra of your time per day. Gum disease can be a risky condition that leads to more complications if left untreated. Gum disease has even been linked to other conditions such as heart disease. Getting into the habit of brushing your teeth routinely takes time and a conscious effort. Setting alarms on your phone, or connecting brushing your teeth to a specific event in a technique called habit chaining can help to consistently remind you to brush regularly. For example, if you brush your teeth every day as soon as you eat breakfast or after you wake up you will begin to associate the behavior of brushing with those actions solidifying the behavior. But the key is consistency and building it into a regular habit can take time.
Flossing
According to studies, brushing without flossing is the equivalent to washing only 65% of your body. If you are unsure how to floss you can speak to your dental hygienist at your next dental cleaning appointment. Flossing once per day removes plaque that is beneath the gum line which cannot be reached by normal brushing. Because this plaque is underneath the gums it makes it easy to develop into gum disease and harden into tartar which can only be removed in the dentist's office. If gingivitis develops the bacteria can spread to the tooth's root which could require a root canal. Gum recession and bleeding gums can also occur. Flossing once per day is essential to maintaining positive oral health as part of your regular routine.
Tooth Whitening
If you are looking to brighten your smile in 2023 looking into professional in office teeth whitening can give you the results you are looking for. In office whitening products use higher strength ingredients that can brighten your teeth up to 10 shades vs. over the counter alternatives in just one visit. Over the counter products, although cheaper, can often provide inconsistent results that do not last as long. In office whitening is able to penetrate deeper layers of the teeth to remove the cause of tooth stains while over the counter products only clean the surface of teeth.
Limit Dark Beverages
A cup of coffee or black tea in the morning helps us get through the rest of the day, but those dark drinks can also cause stains on your teeth that can only be removed by professional teeth whitening. Dark sodas such as cola and red wines can also get through the enamel and cause stains on the teeth by penetrating through the enamel layer of the teeth and reaching a layer called the dentin. We do not need to completely eliminate these drinks from our diet, but being conscious of how much we consume on a daily or weekly basis throughout 2023 can help start our year right by preserving a whiter smile.
Practice A Tooth Friendly Diet
Did you know there are certain foods that are better for your teeth? Foods that are high in calcium such as low fat cheese, milk, greek yogurt, and green vegetables often have high calcium content that help to support healthy teeth. Additionally, high protein foods that include fish, meat, eggs, & chicken help to maintain a strong and healthy enamel while also providing the right nutrients to promote healthy bone density. If your diet is deficient in calcium or protein you might find that your dental health suffers as a result so making sure that you spend some time to evaluate your diet and how you eat can lead you to long term dental health in 2023. Additionally, it is common knowledge that candy and sweets that are high in sugar can wreak havoc on your teeth and enamel. Limiting these, and making sure to brush your teeth and use mouthwash after eating them, will keep your enamel strong and your teeth free of cavities.
Scheduling routine visits
Most important of all is scheduling a routine visit with your dentist to make sure that your teeth are properly cleaned, tartar is removed, and your gums are checked to make sure they are healthy. During a routine dental visit x-rays will be taken at least once per year to proactively find any possible issues that cannot be seen with a visual examination alone. This might include overcrowding teeth which can make you more at risk for cavities and even cause oral pain or decay that is occurring underneath a dental filling among many other things. You can get ahead on your dental health this year by scheduling your appointments right now over the phone. Our dental365 locations are accepting new patients and can be contacted by calling or booked through our online appointment scheduler.
Making your new year's resolution to take better care of yourself can start with your dental health. Practicing preventative dental care and getting into some new brushing and flossing habits are an excellent start to keep your smile happy and healthy throughout 2023. Carefully keeping track of your diet and the food and drinks you consume and scheduling your routine appointments, and potentially looking into teeth whitening, can help you to start 2023 right by giving you a smile to be proud of boosting your self confidence and saving you money by avoiding the need for costly procedures. Begin 2023 by scheduling an appointment with your local Dental365 office.
