Since the new year is coming, you may have already started thinking about what you want to change. You might be thinking about making a New Year’s resolution to save money, get a better job, or lose weight. In the new year, many people plan to live healthier lives. Why not make one of your New Year’s goals to better care for your teeth?
Your teeth can stay healthy with resolutions, and any of these oral habits will help you have a brighter, healthier smile in the coming year.
1. Fruits And Vegetables Should Make Up A Large Portion Of Your Diet
Your teeth will be healthier if you eat well. Poor nutrition can hurt the immune system, making you more likely to get gum disease and other common mouth problems. Fruits, vegetables, legumes, and nuts have antioxidants and other nutrients that help your body fight bacteria and inflammation. This helps protect your teeth and gums. Apples, carrots, and celery are examples of crisp fruits and raw vegetables that help remove plaque from teeth and freshen your breath.
2. Don’t Use Tobacco Anymore
Using tobacco makes you more likely to get yellow teeth, cavities, receding gums, gum disease, throat, lung, and oral cancer. People who smoke are about twice as likely as people who don’t smoke to lose their teeth.
And smoking tobacco isn’t the only thing that can hurt your oral health. Chewing tobacco can be just as bad for your teeth.
The good news is that your chance of losing teeth decreases after you stop smoking or using smokeless tobacco.
3. Don’t Drink Too Much
You may already know that binge drinking can often harm your health, but did you know it can also hurt your teeth? The Academy of General Dentistry says that gum recession (periodontal pocketing) is more common in people who smoke, don’t eat well, and drink 4 or more alcoholic drinks at once. Studies show that smokers who drink alcohol often are less likely to brush their teeth every day and care less about their basic health than people who don’t smoke.
4. Brush Your Teeth Every Day And Use Floss
Plaque, a sticky, colorless, and invisible film of harmful bacteria that builds up every day on your teeth, is the most persistent enemy of your teeth. It causes tooth decay and gum disease, which are caused by plaque. For good oral health, it’s just as important to brush as it is to floss. Plaque builds up between teeth and below the gum line, where tooth decay and gum disease often start.
If you don’t brush and floss properly, you could get bleeding gums, which could lead to gingivitis, when your gums get red, swollen, and bleed, and eventually, gum disease. Because mouth diseases can spread to other parts of your body, taking care of your mouth can help protect your whole body.
5. Get Regular Check-Ups At The Dentist
Going to the dentist for regular cleanings and exams can help stop any dental health problems before they cause pain or require more extensive or expensive treatment. When you visit the dentist regularly, they can check your oral health and suggest a dental care plan to fix any problems.
The Final Thought
This year, make it a goal to take better care of your mouth by eating better, quitting smoking, and practicing better oral hygiene. Your teeth and body will thank you for it. You can visit a dental clinic to take care of your overall oral health.
But rinsing with an antimicrobial mouthwash like Listerine® Antiseptic Mouthwash will kill more oral bacteria and help fight plaque. Once a day, after you brush and floss, swish your mouth around for 30 seconds. Chewing gum is another suggestion.
Most of the time, bacteria are kept in check by the body’s natural defenses and good oral health care, like brushing and flossing daily. But if you don’t care for your teeth and gums properly, bacteria can grow to levels that could cause tooth decay and gum disease.
To get rid of plaque, brush your teeth well twice a day and floss daily. Even if you have dentures or no natural teeth, you should see your dentist at least once a year. Don’t use any tobacco. If you smoke, quit.