With the New Year approaching, you may have
already begun to think about your New Year’s resolutions. You may be
considering resolving to save money, get a better job or lose weight. Many
people set new goals about having a healthier lifestyle in the New Year. Why
not make one of your New Year’s resolutions improving your dental health?
Healthy resolutions can keep your
teeth healthy, and any of the following strategies will go a long way toward
giving you a brighter, healthier smile in the coming year:
Eat Plenty of Fruits and Vegetables
Eating well is important for your
dental health. Poor nutrition can affect the entire immune system, increasing
susceptibility to many common oral disorders, including gum (periodontal) disease.
Antioxidants and other nutrients found in fruits, vegetables, legumes and nuts
improve your body’s ability to fight bacteria and inflammation, helping to
protect your teeth and gums. In addition, crisp fruits and raw vegetables like
apples, carrots and celery help clean plaque from teeth and freshen your breath.
Quit Smoking or Using Other Tobacco Products
Using tobacco can harm your mouth
in a number of ways, increasing your risk for tooth discoloration, cavities,
gum recession, gum disease and throat, lung and oral cancer. Smokers are about
twice as likely to lose their teeth as non-smokers. It’s not just smoking
tobacco that has negative effects on your oral health: use of smokeless tobacco
can be just as harmful to your oral health. The good news is that the risk of
tooth loss decreases after you quit smoking or using smokeless tobacco.
Limit Your Alcohol Intake
You may already know that
excessive alcohol intake can have an effect on your overall health, but did you
know that it may also affect your oral health? According to the Academy of
General Dentistry, those who smoke, eat poorly and consume excessive alcohol
also have increased gum recession (periodontal pocketing). Their studies show
that smokers who regularly consume alcohol are less likely to brush their teeth
on a regular basis and are less concerned about their basic health than
nonsmokers. Try to brush your teeth after drinking alcohol, especially red
wine.
Brush at Least Twice a Day and Floss at Least Once a Day
Brushing and flossing protect
your teeth from decay and gum disease, which is caused by your teeth’s most
persistent enemy, plaque – a sticky, colorless, invisible film of harmful
bacteria that builds up on your teeth every day. Both brushing and flossing are
equally important for good oral health: according to the Academy of General
Dentistry, only flossing can remove plaque from between teeth and below the
gumline, where decay and gum disease often begins.
Without proper brushing and
flossing, you may develop bleeding gums, which may worsen to severely swollen,
red, bleeding gums (gingivitis) and, eventually, gum disease. Because diseases
of the mouth can affect the rest of your body, it is especially important to
maintain good oral health.
See Your Dentist for Regular Checkups
By seeing your dentist at least twice a year, you can
help prevent any dental health problems before they cause discomfort or require
more comprehensive or expensive treatment. Regular visits allow your dentist to monitor your oral health and
recommend a dental health regimen to address areas of concern.
For this New Year, resolve to
treat your mouth right: improve your diet, quit smoking and improve your oral
hygiene habits – your teeth and your body will thank you for it!
