One of the most common New Year’s resolutions is to lead a healthier lifestyle.
For most people, this involves more time at the gym, yoga class, and eating more veggies–and that’s great! However, there is something missing with that plan that’s crucial for good health, and that’s taking great care of your smile.
Your teeth are an important part of what makes up a healthy body, so it’s time for your pearly whites to get the same love you show the rest of your body.
Want a Healthy Body? You Want Healthy Teeth, Too!
Making healthy choices for your teeth makes your smile bright and healthy, but a healthy smile can also equal a healthy body.
If your oral health is suffering, you run an increased risk of developing a variety of health complications. These include respiratory infections, diabetes, dementia, and heart disease.
Five Tips for a Healthy Smile in 2019
- Quit Smoking. As if smokers didn’t have enough problems, tobacco use has detrimental effects on oral health. It increases plaque buildup, causes foul-smelling breath, and yellows your teeth. Plus, tobacco users have a significantly higher risk of developing gum disease and mouth cancer.
- Drink More Water.One of the most important aspects of your oral health is saliva. This fluid helps rinse away plaque and bacteria from your mouth. Drinking plenty of water translates to producing plenty of saliva, so you can keep your salivary glands functioning at their best. Everybody is different, but a good ballpark rule is to divide your weight in pounds by two and drink that many ounces of water per day. For example, a 200-pound person would need 100 ounces of water per day. In addition to benefitting your teeth, staying hydrated is beneficial for every organ in your body. So drink up!
- Start Flossing Every Day. If you don’t floss every day, don’t feel too bad about it. 6 out of 10 Americans don’t. That being said, you should definitely start flossing every day! 40% of your teeth’s surfaces are located between your teeth, so it’s important that you commit to clearing these of any decay or gum disease-causing bacteria and food particles.
- Commit to 6-Month Cleanings. We know that many people hate going to the dentist. Though this does hurt our feelings a tiny bit here at Central Park Modern Dentistry, that isn’t the main reason we’re always encouraging our patients to make it to their 6-month check-ups! Yearly x-rays and twice yearly cleanings are important. The former helps us see what trouble is brewing under the visible surface of your teeth, and the latter helps clear away tartar and plaque buildup. Visiting us in the office every 6 months seems like a small price to pay to avoid root canals, fillings, or other more serious problems that are more likely to occur if you skip your visits.
- Whiten Your Smile. Yellow teeth are a cosmetic issue, but a whiter smile can be the boost forward you need to start your year with confidence! Instead of using OTC products, maybe this is the year you enlist the help of a professional for more personalized treatment and better results.