Make a Dental Resolution for the New Year

As the year moves towards its conclusion, it's natural to start thinking about your New Year's resolutions. While many people choose to diet or exercise more often, there's another way to do something healthy for your body that you might not have thought about. When was the last time you took a close look at your oral care routine and took steps to improve it? Here are some tips that might help you start the New Year off with a smile.

Set an Alarm Reminder

Do you sometimes head to bed at night or go off to work in the morning without remembering to brush your teeth? Forgetting once or twice probably isn't a big deal, but if it becomes a bad habit that continues, your oral health will begin to degrade. Thankfully, just about everyone has a smartphone these days and it's easy to set an alarm or reminder. Have your special alarm go off 30 minutes before bedtime every night to remind you to get into the bathroom. If you have trouble remembering in the morning, set an alarm for roughly 5 minutes after you finish breakfast or head towards the shower. You'll soon be brushing your teeth like clockwork.

The Perfect Time to Restock

Be honest, when's the last time you replaced your toothbrush? Many people only replace theirs at their dental visits when the dentist gives them a new one. But you should really be replacing your brush every one to two months for the best results. This is because your brush can acquire a build-up of bacteria over time that might not wash off under the faucet. Brushing your teeth with a brush covered in bacteria or plaque residue isn't going to be as effective as it could be. Use the New Year to buy a new brush and stock up on other essentials like floss and mouthwash. Try to remember to assess your situation every first of the month during the next year.

A Changed Diet Can Help Your Teeth Too

If you are going on a diet anyway this New Year, make sure you incorporate a dental health component into your new lifestyle. Eat more foods rich in calcium to help strengthen your teeth (and bones). But most importantly, try to cut out things like tea, coffee or sugary beverages that can erode or stain your tooth enamel with every sip.

Contact a dentist in your area today to get the New Year started right with a dental check-up.