Make Good Oral Health One of Your New Year’s Resolutions

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This time of year is bad for your health. You’re trying to be merry and bright, while holiday parties encourage you to eat and drink to excess and throw your health routines out the window. As bad as the holidays can be on your waistline, they can be even worse on your teeth. Sweets and snacks cover the mouth with sugary saliva that can stick to your teeth all day. If you don’t always practice good oral hygiene, you definitely want to start now. Taking care of your teeth and mouth during the holidays can make for good habits that carry you into the new year.

Why Oral Health Matters

Good oral health is one of the most important things you can do for yourself. It affects your smile and your ability to taste, smell, chew, swallow and make facial expressions. It also affects your speaking ability and can be one of the first things people notice. There’s also a connection between oral health and stress, which makes it crucial that you practice stress management techniques like exercising, deep breathing, and recognizing stress trigger points.

It’s never too late to start taking care of your teeth and mouth. If you’ve neglected your teeth, your dentist can help you develop good habits and fix teeth damaged by bad habits. Cavities can be filled, root canals can repair or replace damaged teeth, and dentures can be fitted if your teeth are all or mostly damaged. The good news is that if your teeth are not so bad, then you can save them by starting good oral health and diet habits.

When you’re ready to improve your oral health, the clinical team at Martins Dental Partners offers exceptional dental care and is committed to surpassing your expectations. Make an appointment today!

Brushing

First and foremost, you should be brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing daily. Those two things will keep most tooth decay and oral hygiene problems at bay. Replace your toothbrush every three to four months or earlier if it becomes frayed. Eat a healthy diet and avoid snacking between meals, or brush afterwards if you do. Make regular check ups with your dentist to clean your teeth and check for any problems.

Flossing

It’s most important to clean your teeth at the gum line, which is why flossing is so important. It can reach between teeth and down where your toothbrush cannot. Using a dental pick or electric toothbrush can be helpful if you have difficulty holding a toothbrush at an angle to brush the gum line and lower teeth. Cleaning your teeth and gums in that area is more important than which direction you brush or how many times you go over a certain area. As long as you go over all areas of your mouth (inside and out of front and back teeth, on top of molars, in between teeth with floss, etc.), you will be removing food particles and plaque that can build up and weaken your teeth and gums.

Helping Children

If you have young children, help them to brush and make a game of finding the “lost teeth” in the back so that they don’t focus solely on the teeth they can see. Don’t assume that baby teeth can be neglected because they will fall out. Dental decay in baby teeth can affect the health of permanent teeth and lead to future dental problems. Be sure to keep your kids from eating too much sugar, and schedule regular dental checkups so their dentist can check for early problems before they get bad.

This coming year, make a resolution to eat better and take better care of your teeth. Doing so will make for a beautiful smile and a healthier you.


Written by Justin Bennett (healthyfit.info) exclusively for Martins Dental Partners