New Year’s Resolution Taking Better Care of Your Teeth

Make a New Year’s resolution to start taking better care of your teeth this year. After all, your oral health is important to your overall health as well. Just making a few changes in your life can help you take better care of your teeth in the coming year. Use these tips to start the year off right and make sure you keep that New Year’s resolution.

Reduce the Consumption of Acidic Drinks

Even if you are drinking diet drinks, consuming too many acidic drinks can harm your teeth. Fizzy drinks of any kind can contain harmful acids that do serious damage to teeth. The acid in these drinks can break down your tooth enamel, increasing your risk of tooth decay. In severe cases of tooth erosion, you could deal with tooth discoloration, cracked teeth, sensitivity, and tooth transparency. Even those fizzy waters can be a problem. Stick with water whenever possible, and if you have to indulge in an acidic drink like soda or carbonated water, make sure you’re drinking it with a straw to minimize the contact with your teeth.

Quit the Bad Habits

Consuming too much alcohol and smoking can be bad for your teeth, increasing your risk of gum recession and tooth loss. Some studies show that overindulging in alcohol can make you less likely to brush your teeth regularly, which can cause oral health issues. Tobacco also harms the mouth, increasing your risk for problems like oral cancer, cavities, gum disease, and tooth discoloration. Quit these habits to improve your oral health this year.  

Snack on Raw, Crunchy Veggies and Fruits

You already know that munching down sugary foods is bad for your teeth, so if you want take better care of your teeth in the coming year, snack on raw, crunch veggies and fruits instead of turning to sugar snacks. Raw, crunchy veggies and fruits actually help clean your teeth, and they are packed with great vitamins and minerals that can improve oral health and your overall health.

Never Use Your Teeth as Tools

Using your teeth as a tool is a bad habit you need to kick in the coming year. One of the biggest reasons dental emergencies occur is because people use their teeth as a tooth and end up with a chipped or broken tooth. It’s not uncommon for people to try to cut tape, fishing line, string, and other items with their teeth. Some even try cracking nuts with their teeth. This can damage your teeth, and it can be very expensive to repair your teeth if you damage them while using teeth as tools. Don’t use your teeth as tools if you want to have a beautiful, healthy smile in 2018.

Stop Grinding Teeth

Grinding and clenching your teeth can result in headaches, jaw pain, broken teeth, and even temporomandibular joint disease (TMD). If you have this habit, head to your dentist in the new year. Your dentist can fit you with a night guard to wear to protect teeth from damage that occurs due to nighttime grinding. This can also ease the tension in jaw muscles, so you have a reduced risk of headaches and jaw pain.

Brush Teeth More Often

Nearly everyone can benefit from taking the time to brush teeth more often, even though you may already be brushing your teeth twice a day. Stick with brushing morning and night, but brushing after every meal is a great practice. It’s especially helpful if you brush right after you consume sweets so you reduce the time teeth are exposed to sugars. Keep an extra toothbrush with you at work or school so you have the chance to brush after lunch, and having one in your car ensures you always have a toothbrush with you so you can brush after indulging in sweets.

Get serious about your oral health this year. Resolve to take better care of your teeth, and then follow throw. Talk to your dentist about your New Year’s resolution and learn more about how you can work together to make sure your smile is in great shape this year.