Even before a New Year rolls around, people get busy coming up with their resolutions. Some promise to become more financially savvy and others vow to go to the gym more regularly. Apart from these, the New Year is also a great time to make resolutions for establishing healthy habits.
Other than the usual resolution of eating healthier and drinking more water, why not add improving your oral health to your list? Dental health is an essential part of your overall wellness. When you have a toothache, your entire body feels like it can’t perform any task, right? By resolving to become more proactive about your oral health, you’re taking attainable steps to improving your wellness as a whole.
If you don’t know where to start with your oral health resolutions, we have a few tips below.
1. Commit to a regular brushing and flossing schedule
The regular brushing and flossing of your teeth are the most basic steps to keeping your mouth healthy. Using brushing and flossing products with the Seal of Approval from the American Dental Association (ADA) can successfully remove buildup on and other unwanted debris stuck between the teeth. What’s more, regularly brushing and flossing helps keep your teeth look brighter. The ADA recommends brushing your teeth at least twice daily.
2. Finally schedule an orthodontic treatment
If you have crooked teeth, a bad bite, or other malocclusions in your mouth, it’s important to have the issue corrected as soon as possible. If you’ve been putting off doing so for years, now’s the year to do it.
You don’t even have to worry about whether you’re too old for some of the treatments, like braces. According to the American Association of Orthodontics, one in five orthodontic patients is an adult. You can opt for something low-key like Invisalign or get a bejeweled look with gold braces brackets.
3. Eat more mouth-healthy food
Swap the sugar with mouth-healthy foods rich in calcium, like dairy. Coarse, watery, fibrous foods like apples and lettuce stimulate the flow of saliva. This enhances the removal of food debris and reduces food retention in your mouth, lowering the risk of bacteria and plaque formation.
Other mouth-healthy foods include:
- Cheese
- Yogurt
- Leafy greens
- Almonds
- Water
While you’re at it, you should also know which types of food to avoid. Some of these are high in sugar and others stain the teeth or erode the enamel.
- Sour candies
- Alcohol
- Carbonated drinks
- Chips
- Dried fruit
4. Kick the bad habits
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, smoking increases your risk of developing gum disease. Smoking weakens the immune system, making it more difficult for your body to fight off a gum infection. What’s more, if you already have damaged gums, the chemicals in tobacco products make it harder for wounds in your mouth to heal.
Other bad habits include clenching your teeth and biting your nails. If you want to have healthier teeth, commit to stopping these habits as soon as possible.
These New Year’s resolutions are simple and easy to stick to. When you set attainable goals like these, it’s easier to keep to them and succeed in living with better oral health.