With the holidays in full swing, you might forget that the end of the year is a few short weeks away. You always strive to make a New Year’s resolution that will improve your life or help you meet your goals for the new year.
From losing weight to exercising more, there are many resolutions that you can make to improve your overall health and well being. One resolution you might have overlooked is to take better care of your teeth. There are quite a few benefits to taking your oral care game to the next level. Here’s a look at a few of those benefits.
Reduce the Chances of Tooth Decay
When you take better care of your teeth, you reduce the chances of tooth decay. The better care includes thoroughly brushing your teeth and flossing to remove germs and food before it can become plaque that builds up on your teeth. The plaque build-up can lead to a variety of problems, including cavities and gum disease.
Once the tooth begins to decay and a cavity starts to form, the only course of action is to get your dentist to fill it. At this point, additional brushing and flossing can’t repair the damage. The key is to stop decay before it even starts.
Build Self-Confidence
When you take better care of your oral health, you know that your breath smells good and your teeth are pearly white, and this gives you the confidence to smile more. It can also encourage you to speak out more in crowded areas.
Without gum disease or decaying teeth, you’ll be able to eat more easily and sleep through the night without any discomfort that comes from swollen gums or broken teeth. This helps your overall health and image of yourself.
Sharpen Your Memory
According to the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, people who have gingivitis struggle more with cognitive issues and memory loss than people with good oral care. A group of scientists asked people with and without gingivitis to take a test for memory and other cognitive skills. Test subjects scored higher if they had good oral hygiene.
The participants with gingivitis scored lower on two main tests: delayed verbal recall and subtraction. You use these skills almost every day as part of your job or family life.
Save Money
When you take care of your teeth as part of your daily routine, you’re less likely to get cavities or develop gum disease. The costs of dental care can be expensive but necessary, making preventative steps essential to save you money. If you feel like you have a cavity or some other discomfort, you should see your dentist immediately.
As part of your resolution to take better care of your teeth, you should seek a professional evaluation if you think there’s a problem. Finding a problem as soon as it starts can help to avoid the need for extensive dental work such as a root canal and crown. It can also help you save your natural teeth.
Lower Your Chances of Developing Serious Illnesses
Your mouth and teeth are the gateway to your overall health, and recent studies have started to find links between major, serious illness and poor oral hygiene. Scientists are conducting studies looking for links between gingivitis and poor oral health and cancer, strokes, and heart disease.
While the scientists haven’t been able to draw a direct correlation between poor oral hygiene and these diseases, it does appear that people with gingivitis and other oral issues seem more likely to be struck by these diseases. Type 2 diabetes and issues with regulating the body’s blood sugar levels also seem to correlate with the state of the person’s dental care.
Fresher Breath
When you brush, floss, and visit the dentist routinely, your breath is going to smell a whole lot better. Bad breath comes from poor oral hygiene, tooth decay, and a build-up of plaque. If you notice people stepping back from you when you talk to them, it might be an issue of bad breath. You can ask someone you trust or examine your own oral routine. In some cases, you may need professional teeth cleaning or other dental work to correct the issue and get that fresh breath you want.
Reduce Tooth Sensitivity
Do you feel a little pain or twinge when you eat or drink something hot or cold? This could be tooth sensitivity. Tooth sensitivity occurs when the enamel on the tooth wears and the nerves become a little bit exposed. This can cause discomfort when eating and drinking. Taking better care of your teeth will help protect the existing enamel and calm the sensitivity.
Best Ways to Take Better Care of Your Teeth
Now, that you’ve made your resolution, you might wonder about the best ways to follow through on it. You can start by adding flossing part of your daily oral care routine and make an appointment for teeth cleaning at your dentist’s office. Here are a few ways to follow through on your resolution:
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day and after meals
- Treat yourself to a new toothbrush and make sure that the bristles aren’t too hard for your gums. You might consider an electric toothbrush.
- Floss at least once a day
- Use mouthwash after you brush
- Have your teeth cleaned at least twice a year
- Fill any cavities that your dentist recommends filling
- Wear a mouthguard if you grind your teeth
- Eat less sugar
- Drink less coffee and soda that stains teeth
- Stop smoking
It doesn’t take a lot of big changes to your schedule and routine to keep this year’s resolution. Not only will your mouth feel better and your teeth look whiter, but you might also begin to feel better overall.
As part of kicking the year off right, go ahead and schedule your first teeth cleaning of the year. At Barron Family Dental, we’re ready to help you maintain your resolution throughout the year because we love partnering with our friends and neighbors in Thornton, Colorado. Call us today.
