When it comes to new year’s resolutions, claiming to do something is easier than actually following through. What might be necessary is a little bit of extra motivation.
What if you could make a resolution that would not only better your life, but would also benefit your oral health? As it turns out, there are quite a few changes that people can make that would have the happy side effect of improving teeth. Here are a few.
Eat Better
There are plenty of reasons to want to diet: losing weight, gaining muscle, or even just plain feeling better. For each of those motivations, there’s a diet specifically tailored to get results. One thing most of those diets have in common is that they’re low in sugar and carbs. Cutting out soda and potato chips will make you look and feel better, but it’ll also reduce the amount of sugar in your mouth that can contribute to plaque formation.
If you start eating better in the new year, take note of how your teeth feel; you’ll notice an improvement in no time.
Drink More Water
Staying hydrated is great for your skin, but it also contributes positively to oral health in a way many might not expect.
Saliva is deeply important to oral health, as it’s the first step in the digestive process. That means it breaks down foods and carries them out of the mouth. In that way, it serves as your teeth and gums’ natural cleanser.
Dehydration reduces the amount of saliva you’re able to produce, which means that more food will just sit in your mouth, feeding bacteria. That puts you at greater risk for gum disease and tooth decay over time. By committing to staying hydrated, you’ll be able to keep your mouth nice and moist.
Quit Smoking
Among the numerous health benefits of quitting smoking are a few serious boons to oral health. Tobacco smoke clings to teeth’s roots, which can cause them to come loose over time. Nicotine is also a vasoconstrictor, which negatively impacts the flow of blood and nutrients to the mouth. If you needed one more reason to quit smoking, there it is.
About Our Practice
At Lake Nona Dental Group, we pride ourselves on being able to offer our patients immaculate dental care in an office that makes people feel like they’re at home. That way, we can help patients of all stripes to get to perfect oral health. On top of all that, our team of expert dentists is happy to give you the one-on-one attention you deserve.
If you have any questions about taking care of your teeth in the new year, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (407) 277-1779.
