2020 will soon be upon us and just like every year, at least 20% of the population of the UK will make New Year’s resolutions, and a huge number of those will be related to health. Some people resolve to lose weight, others to exercise more, but if you are looking for something you can really get your teeth into then why not make it this New Year’s resolution to give yourself a healthy mouth?
Of course, one of the best ways in which you can be successful in your resolution this year is to break it down into baby steps. A great way to start on the road to a healthy mouth is to have regular check-ups, so if you haven’t visited your dentist for a while, or have moved and not yet sorted out a new dentist make an appointment with a dentist who offers appointments with a hygienist, it’s important to get that sorted out as soon as possible. If you’re in the Stockport area, check out Bosden Farm Dental; they will be happy to talk you through a good oral health routine that you can follow every day.
Follow a Routine
The first step to a healthy mouth is, of course, to follow a good oral hygiene routine. This should include using a good toothpaste to brush your teeth twice a day, making sure you are using the best toothbrush for your teeth and changing it every couple of months, whilst also flossing regularly. It may also be a good idea to have regular check-ups with your dentist in order to keep on top of any issues you might have with your teeth and also to ensure that any issues are spotted before they become too serious. There are also some foods and drinks that you should look at consuming in moderation.
Consider What You Consume
We all know just how important it is to limit sugar intake in order to have healthy teeth, but do we actually know which foods and drinks we need to avoid to ensure that our mouths stay in top condition?
Sugary foods and drinks can, when consumed in higher quantities, lead to tooth decay. Whilst you don’t have to remove them completely from your diet, it’s a good idea to reduce them. If you do consume foods and drinks that are high in sugar, you may want to ensure that you clean your teeth afterwards in order to reduce the chances of any damage occurring.
Foods that contain higher levels of acid can also be detrimental to the health of your teeth. This might include things such as citrus fruits and wine. The effects of the acid from these items can be reduced by ensuring that you drink plenty of water to help dilute the acids in your mouth.
Coffee and tea should also make it on to the list of things you want to reduce your consumption of, as they can, when consumed in significant quantities, result in discolouration to the surface of the teeth.
Quit Smoking
If you are a smoker, quitting smoking will have a huge impact on your oral health. Not only does nicotine discolour the teeth, it can also have other implications for the health of your mouth such as tooth loss, gum disease and in more severe cases, it may even lead to some types of mouth cancer. Giving up smoking can have a huge impact when it comes to achieving the healthy mouth that you want in the New Year.
Building one good habit up before starting another may make it easier to improve your oral health in the long term, but it could be wise to make the first step a visit to the dentist to get advice specific to your current oral health.
