Do you even remember what resolutions you made last year? Few of us do because we generally break them within a few days and then sweep our shattered resolutions – along with our shame – under the proverbial carpet. So, should we just steer clear of making resolutions all together? No: we just need to set realistic goals! A great place to start is to take better care of your oral health so that, even if you aren’t entirely happy with your appearance or wish to lose a bit of weight this year, you can still be proud of your beautiful smile.
In the first part of this article series, All on 4 dental implants experts laid out a new and more thorough regime for brushing our teeth. But good oral health care, believe it or not, requires more than just regular and thorough brushing. In this installment, we shall take a look at a few more things you can do to keep Houston dental implant specialists at bay and your smile looking beautiful and brilliant for 2013.
2013 Resolutions for a Healthy Smile, Continued…
In our last article, we discussed the dentist’s recommendations for tooth brushing: that it should be done at least three times a day, spending two minutes at a time giving each and every one of our pearly whites a decent scrub. Now, we shall take a look at some of the other measures you can take to achieve your New Year resolution.
2. Flossing
- No oral hygiene routine is complete without flossing. You should floss every single day, preferably before you go to bed at night so that you don’t fall asleep with all that plaque and food debris between your teeth.
- If you find yourself rushing your flossing because you’re bored, keep a canister of it next to your bed or favorite TV room armchair so that you can floss while reading or watching TV. You’ll make a more thorough job of it.
3. Professional Health Care
- It’s imperative that you visit your dentist for regularly scheduled check-ups and professional cleanings. By coming for an appointment twice a year, every year, the dentist will be able to keep an eye on the health of your teeth and gums and provide treatment for any problems that are diagnosed in their infancy.
4. Habits to Develop, Habits to Ditch
Do:
- Drink lots of water
- Eat a balanced diet
- Chew sugar-free gum between meals
- Use an ADA-approved anti-bacterial mouthwash (no alcohol)
- Have a mouth guard fitted if you play sports or are a teeth grinder
Don’t:
- Drink sugary and acid-rich beverages when you’re thirsty
- Drink 10 cups of coffee or tea a day
- Snack incessantly
- Use your teeth to open containers or rip open packaging
- Avoid the dentist because you are scared/ashamed/embarrassed about your teeth
- Wait to see if a problem will go away on its own. If you wait too long, you run the risk of needing far more invasive and expensive dental procedures – such as dental implants - to fix the damage; if it can be fixed at all.
A Final Note from the All on 4 Dental Implants Specialists
Achieving great oral health requires a minimum of effort. But it does require effort every day. That’s one of the most important lessons everyone needs to learn about keeping their teeth and gums in great shape. A quick brush twice a day simply isn’t enough to prevent tooth loss and, in the long run, the need for Houston dental implants. To achieve this resolution, you must be prepared to take a few minutes out of your day to brush and floss thoroughly, to avoid habits that are damaging to your teeth and to make smarter food decisions.
Good oral health care is easy and by following the above-mentioned steps, you can achieve your New Year resolution for a healthier and more beautiful smile for 2013 with ease!
