Revolutionary Resolutions!

Now that the New Year is just around the corner, it’s time to make some New Year’s resolutions. Of course our favorite ones involve your healthy teeth, gums and smile.

But since you are (hopefully) already brushing and flossing on a regular basis, visiting us her at Dillon Family Dentistry at the recommended interval, and not opening bottle caps with your pearly whites, here are some great dental resolutions that may surprise you!

1. Change your toothbrush at least every three months!

Even though your brush may look normal, after three months the bristles become weakened and are not effective. It’s also a good idea to get a new toothbrush after an illness. And never (yuck!) share your toothbrush with anyone!

2. Avoid sports drinks – they can rot your teeth!

We all know that sugary sodas can help promote the formation of cavities, but many people believe that sports drinks are healthy ways to hydrate. They are actually loaded with sugar, and should only be consumed by athletes in training to replace lost electrolytes.Usually, it is recommended that they are diluted and we recommend drinking at least a couple mouthfuls of water immediately after consumption. The best drink ever created is still water!

3. Quit smoking NOW!!!

You probably know that cigarette smoking is linked to lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema, and many other serious health problems. What you may not know is that smoking (and smokeless tobacco) has also been linked to throat, lung and mouth cancer. Smokers are also twice as likely to lose their teeth compared to non-smokers. And it makes your mouth stink!!

4. Eat your fruits and vegetables!

Eating well is important not just for your overall health, but for your dental health as well. Poor nutrition can affect the entire immune system, increasing susceptibility to many common dental problems such as gum disease. Antioxidants and other nutrients found in fruits, vegetables, legumes and nuts improve your body’s abilities to fight bacteria and inflammation, helping to protect your teeth and gums. In addition, crisp fruits and raw vegetables like apples, carrots, and celery help clean plaque from teeth and freshen breath.

5. Prevention Rules!

Ben Franklin had it right in, "an ounce of Prevention is worth a pound of cure!" This goes beyond brushing and flossing. One of the largest determinants in whether or not we can do minimally invasive dentistry is early detection. If we can't find problems when they are small we have to wait until they are large and often symptomatic. At that point the prognosis is twice as bad and the treatment options are cut in half.

So there you have it – five simple and important dental New Year’s Resolutions that you may not have known about!

If you have any questions or any other dental resolutions we can help you with (even coming in for a cleaning and examination!) at Dillon Family Dentistry we are here for you! Feel free to give us a call at 610-525-5497.