The Top 5 Dental Resolutions Your Dentist in DeLand Recommends

Even if you don’t make formal New Year’s resolutions, most people secretly resolve to do better at pretty much everything when a new year rolls around.

If you’re doing that, your dentist in DeLand would like to help you prioritize the dental habits you should improve in 2019.

1. Improve Your Oral Hygiene Habits

This one might seem to go without saying, but not only do you need to resolve to brush and floss more regularly, you need to learn to do it correctly:

• Use a soft bristle or electric toothbrush
• Use fluoride toothpaste
• Brush two times a day and floss every day
• Brush for two minutes
• Position your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gumline
• Replace your toothbrush or toothbrush head every 3 to 4 months, after you’d been sick, or if it becomes frayed
• Add a mouthwash rinse or oral irrigator to your routine

2. Have Restorative Procedures Taken Care Of

If you’ve been putting off any treatments your dentist has recommended, have them done! Taking action on procedures you need will often prevent further damage and more aggressive treatments down the road. For example:

• Treatment for gingivitis will reverse gum disease, preventing periodontitis and eventual loss of teeth
• A filling could prevent a root canal
• A root canal could prevent the loss of a tooth
• Braces could prevent broken teeth from misalignment
• Crowns might also prevent broken teeth

3. Adopt a Healthy Lifestyle

It’s well known that sugar is perhaps the worst culprit when it comes to unhealthy teeth and gums. Reducing the amount of sugar you eat and brushing or rinsing after consuming sugar are important steps to a healthier mouth and body.

Other factors play a role, too, including balanced bacteria levels, medications that reduce saliva production and allow oral bacteria to flourish, and stress or caffeine consumption that can contribute to nighttime grinding.

A healthy diet, exercise, stress management and mouth protection for high-risk athletic activities can all reduce your chances of injury and decay.

4. Eliminate Tobacco Products

Chewing tobacco isn’t the only form of tobacco you should avoid. Smoking cigarettes or cigars (and potentially even vaping) can have a negative impact on oral health, not to mention your overall health.

5. Add Preventive Care to Your Calendar

This should be your most important resolution and it could be your easiest! Preventive care and twice-yearly cleanings allow your dentist and hygienist to educate you on establishing healthy habits that avert many dental issues and catch any damage  early while it can be more easily treated. If issues are already present, a new year is the perfect time to address them.

About the Author

Dr. Christopher Cowell’s goal is to prevent dental issues before they start for every patient from toddlers to seniors. No aspect of dental health is neglected when you trust Dr. Cowell with your smile. Contact us at (386) 734-8585 to get a good start on meeting your resolutions for better dental health in the new year.