2018: Your New Year’s Teeth Resolutions

When you make your new year’s resolutions for 2018, don’t forget about the health of your mouth. Improving your oral hygiene routine, getting regular checkups and getting the dental work you’ve been putting off performed can help improve your health and your self-esteem.

1. Rededicate Yourself to Good Oral Hygiene

Practicing good oral hygiene is the key to good oral health. If you have been lax in your brushing, flossing and rinsing routine, rededicate yourself in 2018. Good oral hygiene involves brushing your gum line and the surface of every tooth. To help you get your teeth clean, you may want to consider gifting yourself an electric toothbrush, which can aid you in removing all the plaque and tartar from your teeth and gums, which helps prevent tooth decay, gingivitis and periodontal disease. You should also floss once a day to remove food particles and plaque between your teeth and rinse your mouth with a good oral rinse that contains fluoride to help strengthen your teeth. Our dentist in Clermont, FL can help you choose the right oral care products.

2. Cut Back on the Sugar

If you have a sweet tooth, resolve to cut back on the sugar in the new year. Sugary foods and drinks, like colas, fruit smoothies, candy bars, cake and ice cream, can lead to tooth decay and cavities. When you eat something sweet, the sugar forms a sticky film on the teeth that feeds the bacteria in your mouth. If the sticky film isn’t completely removed via brushing, flossing and rinsing, it can cause a breakdown of your tooth enamel, creating holes (cavities) in your teeth. Cutting back on your sugar intake can reduce your likelihood of developing cavities and gum disease.

3. Resolve to Make Better Food Choices

One popular new year’s resolution is eating better and losing weight, but did you know eating plenty of crunchy fruits and vegetables, like apples, carrots and celery, can also strengthen your teeth? Eating fresh fruits and vegetables can help clean your teeth and give your body the nutrients it needs to boost your immune system and reduce overall inflammation in the mouth and body that can lead to gum disease as well as other health problems.

4. Nix the Nicotine

Everyone knows that smoking is bad for the lungs and bad for the healthy, but did you know it’s also bad for your gum health. Smoking, chewing tobacco or using other nicotine products can reduce the flow of blood to your gums and dramatically increase your risk for developing gum disease. Starting a smoking cessation plan can help you stop smoking so that you can enjoy good oral health. You may even notice an improvement in the appearance of your teeth.

5. Improve Your Smile with Cosmetic Dentistry

Improve the appearance of your teeth with cosmetic dentistry can boost your confidence and improve the way you look. In-office tooth whitening treatments can lighten your teeth. If you have crooked teeth or maligned teeth, dental aligners can help straighten your teeth without being overly obvious to those around you.

6. Replace Those Missing Teeth

Having missing teeth can negatively impact the health of your jaw, cause bone loss and make it difficult your you to chew certain foods. Replacing your missing teeth with crowns, bridges or implants can restore the look of your mouth and help improve your oral health.

6. Schedule a Dental Exam with Your Clermont, FL Dentist at Hancock Village Dental

Don’t forget to schedule regular dental checkups and teeth cleanings. Dental exams include taking x-rays of your mouth and jaw to determine your overall oral health, looking for signs of gingivitis and periodontal disease and scraping all the plaque and tartar from your teeth. By getting regular dental cleanings and oral health checkups every six to 12 months, you are helping to reduce the amount of plaque in your mouth and tartar below the gum line. This can dramatically reduce your risk for developing gingivitis, periodontal disease and oral infections.

To get started on your 2018 oral health resolutions with our Clermont, FL dentist, call us at 352-989-5815.