5 Dental Habits to observe in the new year

by Mouth Ulcers & Gums January 12, 2022

The new year is always an exciting time, signalling a time for new goals, resolutions, and habits. One way to kickstart the new year is to enhance your personal growth and health by committing to an effective oral hygiene routine. If you have been neglecting healthy brushing habits and consuming excessive amounts of sugar throughout the festive period, now is the perfect time to start a new year’s resolution for your teeth. We have carefully selected our top 5 dental habits for you to keep an eye on in the new year.

Brush & Floss Daily

Although brushing is already a part of your oral hygiene routines (we hope!), the technique and equipment used for brushing can have a huge impact on the effectiveness of the clean. For example, when choosing a toothbrush, it is essential to consider the type of bristles and when choosing a toothpaste, you should find one which works according to your needs. As for the brushing technique, it is recommended to place the brush at a 45-degree angle to the tooth to ensure all surfaces are covered, this should take you a full two minutes. It is also already widely known that brushing should be done but what is often neglected is interdental cleaning. Interdental cleaning techniques such as flossing are responsible for 40% of the teeth and gum cleaning process, ensuring that plaque and food debris is removed. To find out more about interdental cleaning, visit here.

Quit Tobacco Use

Quitting tobacco is overall one of the best things that can be done for not only your dental health, but also your overall health. This resolution tends to be one of the most common, allowing you to truly make a fresh start in the new year. Routinely using tobacco can cause staining to the teeth and irritate the gums. This is due to the body finding it harder to fight off bacteria, making smokers more prone to gum disease and tooth loss. It is known that the nicotine in tobacco is very addictive and can be difficult to quit, leaving many people failing to follow through with this resolution in the past. However, this is a new year and a new chance to retry with many professionals out there and friends or family to help support you through it.

Cut back on the Sugar

Another habit to observe is your sugar intake, which is likely to have been higher than usual over the festive period. Cutting back on the sugar is not only beneficial for the teeth, but also works well with resolutions based on eating healthier or losing weight. Although we all get cravings every now and then, by cutting back on habitually consuming sugar and by brushing and flossing daily, this resolution can have a huge impact on our dental health. Your sugar intake can be monitored by limiting snacking in between meals and increasing your intake of fruits and vegetables. Also, the habit of rinsing your mouth after eating takes away the opportunity for bacteria to linger and multiply in the mouth, hence cutting down on your risk of getting cavities or gum disease.

Visit the dentist regularly

Whilst it is important to take care of your oral health at home, it can also be essential to make sure you are visiting a dental professional for regular check-ups and a professional clean to ensure no early signs of decay go unnoticed. This also provides the opportunity for you and your dentist to discuss any potential issues or concerns regarding your teeth and gums, allowing them to provide treatment where necessary.

Keep your mouth & body hydrated

Drinking more water is also an extremely essential habit for keeping your body hydrated and functioning effectively. Water prevents your mouth from drying out, allowing your saliva to work to keep your mouth clean and free of bacteria which can help to prevent plaque build up and potential gum disease.

These 5 habits can help you to maintain and enhance your oral health in the new year whilst also contributing to a better overall wellbeing, ensuring 2022 is the best year for your smile yet.