New Year’s resolutions are a great way to step back, take inventory on your life, and then make simple changes that will improve your quality of life. Take a look at the Top Ten New Year’s Resolutions from 2017:
- Eat healthier and lose weight
- Get organized
- Make better financial decisions
- Do more exciting things
- Drink less
- Spend more time with family/friends
- Exercise more and stay fit
- Learn something new
- Do more good deeds for others
- Fall in love
These goals, while sometimes lofty, encourage you to stretch yourself and break old habits. This year Seven Lakes Dental in Smokey Point, WA would like to suggest that you add a few Dental Resolutions to your list of New Year’s Resolutions. We have come up with some simple things you can do to better your oral health, which in turn will better your overall health. So, here are 10 things you can resolve to do in 2018 to make your dentist proud:
Our Top 10 Dental New Year’s Resolutions for 2018
- Brush your teeth TWICE daily – Brushing twice a day prevents plaque build-up. You should at the very least brush every morning and every night. More is even better but brushing two times a day is the minimum.
- Floss your teeth once a day – Floss removes plaque and debris that hides between your teeth. It also polishes tooth surfaces, and helps control bad breath. Flossing cleans the tooth surface between your teeth where your toothbrush can’t reach. It is very important that you floss every day to prevent cavities from forming between your teeth!
- Visit your dentist every 6 months – Your dentist will check for tooth decay, evaluate your gums, and examine for indications of oral cancer, diabetes, and vitamin deficiencies. Regular dental checkups ensure that small problems you may not be able to see don’t become larger problems that can be painful and expensive.
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet – If your diet is low in nutrients that your body needs, then your mouth may have a hard time fighting off infections.
- Quit smoking – This is the only one on our list that made the 2015 list above. There are lots of reasons to quit smoking including increased risk of stroke, heart disease, and cancer. From an oral hygiene perspective, smoking can lead to tooth staining, gum disease, tooth loss, and in more severe cases mouth cancer.
- Get pending dental work done, don’t procrastinate – Putting off dental work can turn small problems into large ones! Start the new year off right by taking care of any dental work you have been putting off.
- Change your toothbrush every 3-6 months, (depending on your toothbrush) – Studies show that after three months of normal wear and tear, toothbrushes are much less effective at removing plaque from teeth and gums compared to new ones.
- Gargle with mouthwash once a day – Depending on the type you use, gargling with a mouthwash can help kill germs that cause bad breath, plaque, and gingivitis.
- Stop drinking soda – While they are certainly delicious and refreshing to drink, sodas are terrible for your teeth. Regular soda has lots of cavity causing sugar in it, and studies have shown that while diet sodas are a little better than regular soda, they are still really bad for your teeth. Sipping water is the best option for your teeth and your overall health.
- Whiten your teeth – Teeth Whitening is a great way to improve your appearance and boost your confidence. It is a fairly simple process that can help you feel better about your smile. Ask your dentist for more information about teeth whitening at your next appointment.
Here at Seven Lakes Dental, we care about you and want to help you reach your goals. Remember that it takes an average of 30 days to create a new habit. And if you fail once, don’t give up! The more often you repeat a behavior, the more likely that it will become instinctual. The ultimate goal is to make healthy behavior a lifetime commitment. So get started with those Dental Resolutions and keep at it! Be sure to tell us how your Dental Resolutions are coming along at your next appointment here at Seven Lakes Dental in Smokey Point, WA!