It feels good to set your life in order at the start of the year. You’ve mapped out a budget, thrown out everything that doesn’t spark joy, and downed eight glasses of water at least most of the days this week. But could there be an area of wellness you’ve forgotten? 

This year, let’s not let our dental health fall by the wayside while we take care of other things. Your teeth matter: they’re the only set you’ll ever have (hopefully). It’s important to care for them well. These five simple New Year’s resolutions aren’t anything crazy, but if you follow them, you just might find yourself feeling better and looking brighter than you have in a long time.  

Resolution 1: Kick the bad habits.  

First things first: before you can get to that glowing, new-you smile you’re looking for, you have to kick the bad habits that are keeping you from it. A primary culprit is smoking. Not only does it destroy your lungs, but it destroys your teeth, too. If you’ve lost teeth due to smoking, it will make it harder for you to receive implants. All around, smoking is not a friend to your dental health. If you’re struggling to break the bad habit, speak with your doctor or a trusted friend, family member, or counselor. Take advantage of the wealth of free resources available out there, such as calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW. Though it will be hard at first, your teeth will thank you.

Smoking isn’t the only habit that hurts your teeth, though. Ever open a water bottle with your teeth? Or a stubborn bag of chips? Or anything else? Maybe you shouldn’t. Our teeth are made for chewing, not opening things. Using our teeth for something other than what they’re designed for can wear them out, and even cause permanent damage.

 

If you’re struggling with stained, yellowing, it may be your diet that’s to blame. While no one wants to hear that they can’t eat the foods they want to eat, that doesn’t mean that the food we eat won’t affect us whether we want it to or not. Maybe the bad habit you need to kick is that third cup of coffee, or the last glass of wine. Highly acidic, pigmented drinks like those, if consumed frequently, will inevitably leave your teeth stained.  

Drinking an abundance of staining beverages, using teeth instead of scissors, continuing to smoke… these are just a few examples of bad habits we might need to kick in order to get our dental health together for the new year. Consider what bad habits are lingering and affecting your dental health, and how you might manage those this year.  

Resolution 2: Commit to the basics.  

Okay, so you’ve committed to wiping out whatever bad habit was troubling you and your teeth. Next step: build up the basics.  

Be honest: do you floss as much as you’re supposed to? If you don’t, now’s the time to start. There’s no time like the present. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends brushing for two minutes, twice a day, and flossing at least once a day to maintain a proper oral hygiene routine. Yet if we’re honest, many of us slack on flossing, and brush our teeth for more like a total of 30 seconds each time than 2 minutes.  

This is not good. If you need to be refreshed on the horrors of what can happen if you don’t floss, ask your dental hygienist during your next visit. They’ll be happy to regale you with terrible tales of tooth decay. Rest assured that flossing is a crucial part of your oral hygiene routine; it reaches spaces brushing never could. As for brushing, maybe it’s time to set a two-minute timer for yourself, like you do for your kids! Sure, you might feel silly or stupid at first, but you’ll probably be shocked to realize how short of a time you were brushing your teeth before. So set that timer and scrub, scrub, scrub—the full two minutes. 

Resolution 3: Make your diet work for you.  

For something that has such an outsized impact on our dental health, we tend to forget there’s an impact at all. How often do you think about your teeth when deciding whether to have soda or water, to take down that bag of chips, to eat a second cookie or not?

Probably not that often.

We want to challenge you to remember that what you eat affects not just your overall health, but the specific health of your gums and teeth.  

For example, what do you think will happen if you drink a soda every single day? The acid and sugar will erode your enamel, and before long, you’ll have a mouth riddled with cavities. What could happen if you always reach for the starchy options, like rolls and chips and cookies? Those foods will get stuck in your teeth, where the sugar-bacteria combo will also dissolve your enamel, leaving you a mouthful of cavities.  

But you can also turn things around and make your diet work for you. By eating a fiber-rich, calcium-and-fluoride-packed, generally nutrient-dense diet, you can leverage the power of your food to help your dental health instead of harm it.  

Fiber-rich foods are recommended by the ADA as a natural support to healthy teeth and gums, as they stimulate saliva production and help to restore lost minerals. You’ll want to take in plenty of cheese, yogurt, and other dairy products, which contain the calcium your teeth need. By balancing out your plate with fresh fruits and veggies, you can get the vitamins and antioxidants that are vital in promoting teeth and gum health. 

Resolution 4: Upgrade your toolkit.  

Maybe a new year means it’s time for some new dental health supplies. Is your toothbrush worn out and frayed? Replace it. Or better yet, consider getting an electric toothbrush! As the Cleveland Clinic notes, “Electric toothbrushes are generally considered more effective at removing plaque and keeping teeth clean than manual toothbrushes.” They can be especially helpful in allowing those who struggle with dexterity or proper brushing technique to still maintain good oral hygiene.  

While you’re at it, have you ever thought of investing in a water flosser? Many people find water flossing to be a more comfortable way to fully clean the crevices between their teeth. Those with braces or dental work may find it much easier to floss with a water flosser than via traditional means. By getting rid of plaque that would otherwise stay and harden, water flossing can even help you have a brighter smile. Overall, you might simply find that switching up your routine and adding a water flosser to the mix helps you get energized about oral health and give your teeth and gums the treatment they need.

Resolution 5: Let us help you.  

We all know the best resolutions fail without an accountability partner. Everyone needs that friend who stops you when you’re almost done the diet, but the ice cream is staring you in the face. You can think of us that way—we’re your dental health accountability partners. So don’t miss a visit! It’s best to come every six months, unless a particular concern brings you in before then. 

Why?

Well, regular checkups allow your dentist to ensure that everything is going smoothly, recommend specialized treatment if needed, and stay on the same page with you regarding your dental health. That way, hopefully, no dental health crisis will sneak up on you. At your six-month visit, you also receive your bi-annual cleaning. That removes any hardened plaque known as tartar (something that can only be done at the dentist’s office). So don’t miss those visits! 

If you have questions about how best to care for your teeth in the new year, or would simply like to schedule your next appointment, please contact our office today. We would love to hear from you.