5 New Year’s Resolutions for a Healthy Smile

I’m sure you’re likely making resolutions to be happier and healthier in 2020. Rather than making the same physical health goals, try committing to improving your oral health. After all, it’s just as important as being in shape.

Yellow teeth and gum disease aren’t the only things you’re risking by not keeping up with your dental hygiene routine. Oral health issues have been linked to other serious conditions including heart disease, diabetes, dementia, and respiratory infections.

Resolutions for Your Smile

1. Give up Tobacco This Year: Chewing tobacco, cigarettes, and cigars can cause mouth cancer and seriously damage your teeth. Tobacco use increases the risk of gum disease, causes plaque buildup, yellows teeth, and causes halitosis.
2. Floss Daily: You hear this all the time, but it’s about time you start prioritizing flossing. Flossing is a simple step you can take to remove excess food particles, prevent plaque buildup, and contribute to a whiter smile. If you don’t floss it’s like washing your hands but not washing in between your fingers. Your teeth are getting brushed but in between your teeth are neglected.
3. Make Your Dental Appointments: We don’t know anyone who enjoys getting cavities filled or enduring root canals, so why skip your six-month check-up? Your dentist appointments are our opportunity to prevent decay and serious dental work so you don’t have to come in for those annoying cavity filling appointments.
4. Whiten Your Teeth – This is one resolution that doesn’t actually affect your oral health, but it can definitely boost your self-confidence. However, we do recommend professional whitening over drugstore products.
5. Drink Plenty of Water – A hydrated body produces more and healthier saliva, which is important and helpful for rinsing your teeth between brushing. Whatever your body weight is, cut that number in half and aim to drink that many ounces of water each day.

Your Dentist Knows Best

If you want to take better care of your smile this new year, a great place to start is by visiting your dentist. Lone Tree Modern Dental & Orthodontics is currently accepting new patients and following COVID-19 guidelines to protect our staff and patients. Contact us to make your appointment for the new year!