One of the best times to improve yourself and your quality of life is to create new goals in the new year to ensure you work towards better habits. Whether you want to lose weight or spend less time on social media, 2021 is the perfect time to work harder to improve your habits and lifestyle. One of the best ways to work on yourself is by improving your oral health to ensure you provide better care to your teeth and improve your smile. Poor dental health can affect your self-confidence and also lead to serious issues over time, making it necessary to start creating new habits and improve your oral care in the new year. There are a few main changes you can make to ensure you start to see noticeable results.
Schedule an Appointment
Start by scheduling an appointment at least twice a year to visit the dentist for routine check-ups. Visiting the dental office throughout the year can allow your dentist to spot early signs of tooth decay or gum disease before it’s too late. It also offers a good way to determine how well your oral care is going and if you need to make any improvements or changes. Preventative care is one of the best steps you can take to prevent issues from occurring.
Practice Daily Brushing and Flossing
Daily brushing and flossing are one of the most important steps to take when it comes to improving your oral health. A significant amount of bacteria is present in the mouth, which can lead to tooth decay, gum disease, and bad breath. When gum disease develops, even can even increase the risk of developing other types of diseases, including cardiovascular disease. Gum disease is even linked to lower birth weight and premature birth while having a poor impact on your heart.
Use Extra Caution
If you suffer from diabetes or are diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, you’ll need to take your oral care even more seriously due to complications that can occur if issues develop. When the health and the immune system is compromised, it can reduce the body’s resistance to serious conditions. Poor oral health can also gradually lead to eating disorders, head and neck cancers, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Practice Good Eating Habits
Many people don’t realize that their diet has a direct impact on their health even with proper flossing and brushing each day. It’s important to eat clean, whole foods while limiting snacking throughout the day. You’ll want to limit your carbohydrate intake and sugar consumption, which can lead to cavities.
It’s also important to quit smoking or using tobacco, which can cause discoloration on the teeth and also increase the risk of gum disease. Tobacco use is known to cause irritation on the gum tissue, making it become looser around the teeth. Bacteria is more prone to entering the gums if the tissue is loose, which can increase the risk of tooth decay.
Although the state of your oral health can have a direct impact on other areas of the body, you can still take control of your oral health in the new year. Visiting Memorial City Dentistry every six months and practicing good brushing habits can reduce your risk of ailments and conditions over time. Spending more time improving your oral habits can save you money on your oral health in the coming years. You can look forward to good health and new habits in the coming year!