Make These Oral Health Resolutions for 2016

Top Oral Health Resolutions for the New Year

The holiday season is basically here, which means New Year’s Eve is right around the corner. One of the best New Year traditions is making resolutions to be better and do better in the year ahead. Many people make resolutions to eat healthier, exercise more, save more money, and take better care of themselves. While oral health may not be at the top of the resolution list, it is still very important to our overall health – here are some oral health resolution you should consider adopting in 2016.

Visiting the Dentist Regularly

Many people struggle with visiting the dentist on a regular basis or seeing one at all. Seeing a dental professional twice a year is very important to having proper oral health so for the New Year, you may want to consider making and keeping regular appointments. Dentists will be able to help patients optimize their oral health as well as discover symptoms of more serious oral problems early on, such as signs of gum disease or oral cancers, and be able to alert them to signs of potential medical problems.

Adopt a Proper Oral Routine

While many of us have the brushing twice a day part of our oral routine down, we often have a hard time remembering to or wanting to floss. Flossing is just as important for oral health as brushing is and this practice should be performed at least once a day. Flossing is important in not only maintaining healthy teeth but also healthy gums. It is also crucial for removing food that gets stuck between teeth – when food is left between teeth, it sits on the tooth’s surface and can cause tooth decay.

Eat Sweets in Moderation

Although this may seem like a resolution for eating healthier, it can also be beneficial for an individual’s oral health. Sweet treats contain a lot of sugar and when sugar combines with the bacteria naturally found in the mouth, it produces acid that causes tooth erosion and decay. While you do not have to cut delicious desserts out of your diet completely, make sure to enjoy them in moderation – if you have sweets after dinner, brushing immediately after eating can help to stop the sugars from sitting on the teeth too long as well as helping to keep your mouth looking great for years to come.

If one of our resolutions is to visit the dentist regularly but you do not have insurance, sign up for the Wellness Dental Plan. This New Hampshire discount dental plan can save you as much as 20 percent off all dental bills. For more information, click here.

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