New Year’s resolutions are not made to be broken, especially dental-centric ones that will improve our oral and overall health.
If we simply manage to maintain a diligent daily regimen of brushing, flossing, and visiting our friendly neighborhood dentists, we can take our new found dental health resolutions well into June…and beyond!
In keeping with a traditional health improvement theme for this year’s resolutions, let’s examine 3 simple ways we can all resolve to take better care of our teeth and gums…aside from these 5 tips to quit smoking, that is.
I will brush my teeth for 2 minutes, 2 times each day.
According to the American Academy of General Dentistry, we should all be brushing our teeth for 2 minutes, 2 times each day. This most simple form of self-dental care protects our teeth from decay and gum disease which is caused by plaque – a buildup of sticky icky residue that collects on our teeth. Without proper brushing and flossing, we may develop bleeding gums, which may worsen to severely swollen, red, bleeding gums (gingivitis) and, eventually, full-on blown out incurable gum disease!
And remember, since diseases of the mouth can affect the rest of our bodies, it is especially important to maintain good oral health as an essential ingredient to overall health & wellness!
Teach your kids how to brush…the right way: watch this video with them.
Or this one, courtesy of Colgate:
I will use dental floss daily.
And we’re not talking about cutting the cheese, or tying flies with some Bear Grylls meets MacGyver DIY dental floss fishing contraption. Both brushing and flossing are equally important for good oral health: according to the Academy of General Dentistry, only flossing can remove plaque from between teeth and below the gumline, where decay and gum disease often begins.
Floss ‘em or lose ‘em in 2014!
I will visit my dentist at least twice this year.
If we collectively resolve to see our dentists at least twice a year, we can actually contribute to the economic welfare of our local communities while achieving optimal oral health at the same time!
By visiting our friendly local social dentists at least twice a year, we can help prevent any oral health problems before they cause discomfort or pain that in turn requires more comprehensive or expensive treatment down the road – it’s the whole ounce of prevention thing.
Regular dental office visits allow our dentists to monitor our oral health and recommend an individual dental health regimen designed to address our specific areas of concern.
For more ideas, check out some of these popular topics for New Year’s Resolutions…courtesy of the U.S. Government…
Make it happen in 2014, for the health of our teeth and gums, for the economic health of our local community leaders, and for the overall health benefits healthy teeth and gums provide!
