New Year Resolutions – Have a Healthy Mouth in 2017
With the Christmas break behind us and Hogmanay done and dusted, I thought I would take a look at some potential New Year resolutions that you might want to consider making to get a healthy mouth in the year ahead. January is a great time for planning your year ahead, and writing down your resolutions has been shown to dramatically increase the chances you will keep the promises you make to yourself.
So if you are looking for inspiration – here’s a few tips to ensure you have a healthy mouth in 2017:
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Cut down on sugar
Especially sweets and foods that tend to remain in the mouth a long time whilst being sucked. This lengthy contact with the teeth increases the risk to the protective enamel, which, once damaged, is likely to lead to tooth decay and potentially a painful toothache.
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Quit smoking for a healthy mouth
Thankfully, far fewer people smoke than used to, but some do still find it hard to quit and some even start smoking. From a dental perspective, smoking is thought to be the leading cause of oral cancers in the UK which can have a devastating effect on the mouth and may require surgery. It can also even prove fatal if not detected early enough. Whether you smoke or not, regular checks at Sloan Dental will ensure that any potential signs of oral cancers are detected early on.
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Change your toothbrush
If you cast your mind back to when you last bought a toothbrush or changed the head on your electric one, we suspect that, for some, it will be so long ago that they can’t even remember. You should change your toothbrush or head every three months or so. Once the bristles become worn and soft, they are no longer effective at removing bacteria from the teeth and, by using an old toothbrush, you increase the risk of gum disease.
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Use an interdental brush
Only around one in five of us clean between our teeth regularly. Whilst some find this tricky initially, once used to it, it is not a difficult task to perform and interdental brushes are now available as a much better alternative to traditional floss. Our team of experienced dentists are always available for advice on how best to perform this task and keep your mouth healthy. Gingivitis, the early stage of gum disease, often starts in the spaces between the teeth where a toothbrush can’t reach and adding interdental cleaning to your oral health regimen greatly improves your chances of avoiding gum disease.
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Make an appointment for a check up
If you have not seen your dentist in the last six months or don’t have an appointment, now is a good time to do so. By visiting your dentist on a regular basis, many dental problems can be avoided and those that do occur can be treated in their early stages with only minor intervention. Avoiding the dentist for long periods of time almost certainly means poor oral health and eventually major dental treatment.
