As we begin this New Year in 2014, what better way to start than to make sure that we are properly taking care of ourselves. Being mindful of our oral health and diet is extremely important! Some people tend to put this on the backburner, but it’s just as important as trying to lose weight or dress better, etc.
Here are 5 solid resolutions that the staff at Dr. Brown’s thinks are great ways to start afresh, keep up with your oral hygiene, FEEL BETTER about yourself, and stay HEALTHY!
- Brush your teeth for 2 minutes AT LEAST 2x per day. Believe it or not. Some people admit to NOT brushing OR only once a day..whether that is in the morning, during the day or at night, the suggested number of times is about 2 per day. Once in the morning when you first wake up and right before you go to bed. Certainly a reasonable resolution for this new year.
- Floss AT LEAST 1x per day. Once you actually start flossing and seeing all the GUNK that comes out from in between your teeth, maybe you’ll understand why we suggest it AT LEAST 1x per day! Sweets getting stuck in there can cause cavities, and remaining food sitting in your mouth also contributes to bad breath!
- Limit your intake of alcohol, coffee (stains your teeth!), and pop (significantly increases cavities!). Of course we are all trying to watch our “diet,” but these liquids need to be monitored! Especially with your children. Do they drink a lot of pop/soda each day? What about juices high in sugar content? These are big cavity boosters and also not super great to have all the time. Be mindful of your diet for your teeth’s sake!
- Visit your dentist regularly. The average suggested visit should be every 6 months for a cleaning. At this apt, you will see the hygienist who thoroughly cleans your teeth and gums, checks for cancer, and infections! Very important for your health.
- Eating plenty fruits and veggies! Make sure your meals are balanced and you are properly feeding your body. Fruits and veggies not only have vitamins and minerals, but antioxidants which help your immune system fight diseases (perio disease) and bacteria. When your teeth and gums are infected, this can lead to other serious health issues.
Taking care of your oral health is such a great NEW YEAR RESOLUTION! These quick tips should help you start afresh for 2014. Give Dr. Brown or any of the staff here if you have any specific questions on how to care for your oral health. OR if you want to schedule your first cleaning of the year!
HAPPY NEW YEARS EVERYBODY!