At Artistic Dental, we hope that one of your New Year’s resolutions is to improve oral health in 2018. Making the commitment is the first step to incorporating healthier habits into your daily life, but we realize it can tough to stick with it. To help you succeed this year, we’ve put together a list of five things you can do to get on track and improve oral health in 2018:
- Resist your guilty pleasures: We all know that cutting out sugar from your diet is a good idea for weight loss. But, did you know that cutting out sugar is also a good idea to improve oral health? Sodas, candy and juice are full of sugar, but there are many “healthy” foods that are also heavy in sugar. Companies try to disguise sugar as glucose, lactose, sucrose. When you are buying food, it is important to read the ingredients and nutrition information to learn which products include added sugars.
- Brush up on your skills: Brushing your teeth twice a day is essential to improve oral health. But, if you’re not doing brushing your teeth the right way, it is only so helpful. Begin by taking time to “brush up” on your tooth brushing techniques with these tips:
To properly brush your teeth, follow this technique:
- Place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gums
- Gently run the brush back and forth in short strokes
- Brush the outer surfaces, the inner surfaces and the chewing surfaces of the teeth
- To clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, tilt the brush vertically and make several up-and-down strokes
- Brush your tongue to remove bacteria and keep your breath fresh
- Schedule your bi-annual checkups: One of the most important things you can do to improve oral health is to visit the dentist for your bi-annually dental checkups. At these appointments, the hygienist will be able to remove any plaque and tartar build up you might have. They will also assess any signs of decay and prescribe necessary treatments or preventative measures like dental sealants.
- Screen for oral cancer: At Artistic Dental, we are committed to providing education to our patients and preventing oral cancer through screenings during our patients’ regular check-ups. The signs of oral cancer are not always visible sores or painful lumps, so seeing a dentist for periodic exams is crucial for early detection and prevention. Yet another reason to see your dentist regularly.
- Consider an antibacterial mouthwash: Mouthwash is a great option for those who struggle with bad breath or bacterial buildup. It serves to further rinse your teeth and mouth in places that your toothbrush might not be able to reach.
The Artistic Dental team encourages you to adopt these 5 things to improve dental health in 2018. For more information about oral health topics, trends, and professional advice from our doctors, please visit our blog. To schedule an appointment, call our office at (602)840-5400.