Each year, many of us make half-hearted New Year’s resolutions that we generally fail to keep. It’s time to stop the cycle of disappointment! Why not take 2019 as an opportunity to put some teeth–literally–into your self-improvement commitments?
Dedicating yourself to improved oral health involves some pretty simple steps.
If you’ve been putting off a much-needed dental checkup, it starts by making an appointment with a skilled local dentist. Here are 4 other New Year’s resolutions you can make for your teeth in 2019. With a touch of follow-through, your pearly whites will thank you.
1. Stop Cutting Corners When It Comes To Brushing
Most of us brush our teeth every day, and aim to do so twice a day. Sometimes, though, fatigue or a late night out gets in the way of our evening teeth-cleaning. Skipping evening brushing once in a blue moon won’t hurt you. If it becomes a habit, however, it can lead to problems like gum disease and tooth decay.
Brushing removes particles of food as well as plaque, a transparent layer of bacteria coating the teeth. When plaque mixes with sugar it produces acids that erode enamel, making your teeth vulnerable to cavities.
If it isn’t cleared away, this acid can penetrate the dentin of your teeth and breach the pulp. This can cause a bacterial infection or a painful abscess, both of which generally require a root canal. It’s a world of hassle that can be avoided by a two-minute process.
Skipping brushing also carries other risks. When plaque isn’t cleaned it can harden into tarter, a crusty deposit that bonds so strongly to your teeth it needs to be removed at the dentist. Tartar traps stains, so it can cause your teeth to become discolored. It also irritates your gums, which can lead to gingivitis. Again, taking that two minutes to brush is worth your while.
2. Floss Your Teeth Every Day
We’ve all heard the old edict. To keep your teeth healthy, brush and floss your teeth every day. Many people skip the latter step though, figuring vigorous brushing serves as sufficient tooth care.
Flossing, though, is an important part of dental hygiene. By clearing out plaque and food in hard-to-reach areas between your teeth and gums, it helps ward off cavities and gingivitis.
The best way to develop a new habit is to make it easy. There are many options when it comes to choosing the best dental floss. Whatever you settle on, place your floss near your toothbrush so you’ll be sure to remember this vital step.
3. Get your teeth professionally cleaned
Even if you brush and floss religiously, it’s important to get your teeth professionally cleaned at least twice a year.
There are a number of benefits to this routine procedure, including the fact your dental hygienist starts the process with a thorough exam of your mouth. They’ll cue you in if they detect signs of gingivitis, tooth decay or other issues with your oral health. This alone makes a professional tooth-cleaning an effective part of preventative care.
Your dental hygienist will also use a scaler to remove stubborn tartar, a task you can’t perform at home, and polish your teeth with a gritty, professional-grade paste. At the end of the treatment your teeth are likely to feel smoother and look brighter.
If you’ve been procrastinating regarding teeth-cleanings, it may be best to take the leap by picking up the phone and setting an appointment. You can also keep yourself on a schedule for regular dental care by setting a reminder on your calendar when it’s time to get your teeth cleaned.
4. Quit Staining Your Teeth
If your teeth are stained, you can get them professionally whitened, one of the many services offered by Dr. Zach Taylor and his staff at Taylor Cosmetic Dentistry. If you have habits that lead to tooth discoloration, however, you’re going to have to keep making costly and time-consuming appointments, just to keep your smile bright.
Smoking is one of the biggest culprits when it comes to yellow and discolored teeth. If cigarettes are getting you down, and making your smile brown, the advent of the new year is the perfect time to quit.
We know. Stopping smoking is easier said than done. You may, however, be able to inspire yourself. Tape a picture of a celebrity with the kind of toothy white smile you’d like to maintain on the inside of your medicine cabinet. Going from dingy to bright; now that’s smoking hot!
If you’re ready to maintain and improve your smile in 2019, Taylor Cosmetic Dentistry is ready to help you. To schedule a checkup, cleaning or procedure-or learn more about our life-changing smile makeovers–contact us for your appointment today.
