Dental Goals

When New Year is approaching, and people have all those holidays to enjoy, dental care or oral hygiene is often the last thing on their minds. If you wish to have an open and bright smile next year, you need to focus on your dental hygiene a bit more.

Without the proper care, your teeth will likely face permanent damage; teeth are the strongest part of the body, but they require extensive care if they are to last long and look as shiny as you want them to.

And the New Year is the perfect time to add them because then you can have a fresh start with your dental care and keep track of how long you have been implementing that routine. Wellness resolutions are deeply motivating if you stick to them; once you reach a milestone, they can make you feel accomplished. So, set goals for yourself this year and preventative limitations that can help you maintain your teeth’s health and glow.

What Goals Should You Implement for New Year?

New Year resolutions have the power to develop into lasting habits. If you are to think about the positive impact these dental goals will have on your oral and physical well-being, you will immediately incorporate them into your personal life. When your behavior and routine have these implemented changes, you will notice that your physical health has also been positively impacted. See, the immune system is related to oral hygiene. The stomach reacts to the food, and if there are harmful bacteria in the food due to cavities, then your immune system will suffer from it. Essentially, oral hygiene affects the entire system inside your body. Now, let’s talk about the various healthy goals you can make for your next New Year's resolution.

Optimize Your Existing Habits

Optimizing your existing habits is likely to sound complicated, but it is not. Most people have a daily routine where they don't wash their face as often and brush their teeth only once; there is a majority of people who don't even floss their teeth. Regardless of your habits, you should optimize them and power them up. This is to say that if you don't clean your face regularly, you should do it more frequently and with more quality products.

As for flossing and brushing your teeth, you can't escape them; they are an essential part of your routine. Additionally, you should start using mint mouthwash afterward to optimize the routine. When you start using mouthwash afterward, you will notice gradual differences in your smile's brightness; it will be significantly lighter.

Here are a few tips for optimizing the existing routine:

  • Use a soft toothbrush for at least 2 to 3 minutes. Hold it at a 45-degree angle from your gums and clear the crevices thoroughly.
  • Use toothpaste that has fluoride in it; it will strengthen your teeth.
  • Use a mint or antiseptic mouthwash.
  • Brush twice a day but floss only once. Floss thoroughly; use regular floss, a device, or a brush.

Healthier Diet

Believe it or not, the food you eat significantly impacts your oral health. If you wish to keep your teeth in optimal shape, bright and sharp, you have to make healthier dietary choices. Similarly to how cavities affect the immune system, your mouth can also feel the impact of poor diet choices. If there are harmful or potentially dangerous properties in the diet you intake, then your teeth and mouth will likely suffer because of it. There is a substantial risk of gum disease, cavities, or other severe conditions.

Steps that will ensure you receive a proper diet are:

  • Limit your sugar consumption, beverages, or any acidic foods. It is publicly known that these foods are extremely hazardous to the overall health of a person as well as their oral hygiene.
  • Refrain from snacking between meals; if you feel hungry between meals, drink smoothies but don’t eat junk or fast foods.
  • Drink lots of water after drinking a sugary drink and after finishing your meals.
  • Make sure that you are eating a lot of vegetables, fruits, and other things that are rich in nutrition.
  • And most importantly, talk to a reliable and trustworthy dentist to ensure there are enough vitamins and nutrients in your diet.

Make Sure You Visit the Dentist Every Few Months

This is the step that people often back out of or tend to avoid in general. If you have not visited a dentist for over four months, you need to contact them immediately and book an appointment. The extensive test they conduct to ensure the health of your teeth. If you are still looking for a suitable dentist that bodes well for you, contact Universal Smile Dentistry for a quick checkup.

See, dentists don’t hold responsibility for your smile or your oral hygiene alone. An Edgewater dentist or Orange City dentist is also responsible for ensuring that your physical health is in optimal condition and that you feel comfortable throughout the checkup. If you have had a poor experience with a dentist, you may feel more reluctant to try them again. But if you neglect your regular checkups, you won’t be able to recognize any first-stage problems until they get worse enough to be considered an emergency. But if you keep going to the dentist every few months, especially if you feel even a hint of pain, you will prevent severe damage to your teeth. Plus, regular checkups will keep your smile glowing and pearly white.

A few signs of a good dentist are:

  • They listen to you and don’t interrupt you
  • They care about alleviating your pain; meaning they are capable of seeing you as a person, not a patient
  • They are respectful of your boundaries
  • They are in good standing with the ADA

Keep a Fresh Mouth

Keeping a fresh mouth means that you shouldn't keep your mouth dry. This is because your saliva has a primal and crucial function of maintaining the health of your gums, teeth, and mouth. It is full of minerals that strengthen the enamel and neutralizes the acidity (pH levels) in your mouth. And dry mouth involves many hazardous conditions that could very well result in severe pain or tooth loss. A few quick tips to prevent dry mouth are:

  • Chew gum and make sure that it is sugar-free to avoid the “sugar increase” aspect of the oral hygiene
  • Drink dietary products to increase saliva
  • Avoid alcohol as it causes dry mouth
  • And don't forget to drink lots of water before bed because it will keep you hydrated when you wake up.

Final Thoughts

If you have a New Year’s resolution to have a maintained and healthy smile, then make sure you include these tips as well. However, if you don’t, you should immediately start on that list. Without proper oral hygiene, you won’t be able to maintain your physical health. Hopefully, you read these tips carefully, seeing as each of them holds significant influence. For experienced and seasoned professional dentists, contact our specialists at Universal Smiles Dentistry, where we value our patient's health above all else.