As we get further into the first month of 2018, dental care should be on everyone’s list of new year’s resolutions. Despite the importance of oral health, many people treat dentist visits as something to put off until they absolutely cannot avoid making an appointment. If you wait until you have a major cavity, broken tooth, impacted root, abscess or gum disease, you put your health in jeopardy.
Don’t take that risk. Make sure that you make (and keep) a set of dental care resolutions this year that will see you through the year and beyond with the best possible oral health.
Essential Dental Care Resolutions
Some of our top dental care resolutions for the year ahead include the following:
Brush, use mouthwash and floss correctly. You’d be surprised how few people brush and floss teeth correctly. This daily routine can eliminate a number of issues, preventing problems before they become bigger, more expensive problems. As such, brushing, using mouthwash and flossing should be the most important thing you do for your teeth each and every day. If you have always tried to hurry this process every morning and evening, now is the time to change your habits. Invest in an electric toothbrush, read our tips on how to brush correctly and how to floss correctly, use a high quality toothpaste, and you will soon feel and see the difference.
Don’t ignore minor problems. On a similar note, another way to take care of your teeth this year is to catch small problems while they are still easy to treat. Sensitive teeth, sore gums, tiny cavities, cracks, broken teeth, worn fillings, and any other minor issue can very quickly become bigger, more serious issues if left unchecked. Book an appointment with your dentist as soon as you see, feel or experience any changes in your teeth,gums or any part of the mouth. Unchecked dental issues can affect your well-being in more ways than one. If you wait too long, you may end up not only paying more but also risking your overall health.
Schedule a professional cleaning. You should also schedule a professional dental cleaning session at least twice a year. Bi-annual cleaning is ideal to help keep your teeth and gums in optimal shape. As an added bonus, regular, scheduled cleaning can also help to identify potential problems early. This should be non-negotiable for everyone – just as important as a check-up at your doctor.
Stop smoking. Another thing you can do for your dental health and overall health is to stop smoking. Smoking affects your health as well as your teeth, gums, and breath. If you want to keep as many of your own teeth as possible by the time you retire, now is the time to stop smoking. Your own teeth and gums will thank you, and so will your friends, family and those around you.
Go easy on the sugar and carbs. You can also start working towards cutting down on your sugar intake this year if you truly want to take better care of your teeth and also consume sugar at the right time to minimise the bad effects of sugar or carbs on the teeth. Sugar has been proven to have many harmful effects on oral health, putting you at greater risk of cavities. Cut down or cut out fizzy drinks, fruit juice, sweets, chocolate, and other sugary treats this year or have your sugary treats with the meal or immediately after the meal and you can prevent further harm.
Get in touch with the Gateway Dental office today to make your appointment. Thanks to our team of professional, highly trained dentists in Durban and surrounds, we make it easier than ever to enjoy the best dental care, year on year.