With Christmas behind us and 2016 quickly coming to a close, many individuals are taking time to seriously devise their New Year’s resolutions. Maybe you already intend to shed those extra pounds, increase take-home pay or volunteer more. For 2017, Assure A Smile encourages patients and readers to adopt positive dental habits alongside their existing affirmations.
Because these recommended habits easily fit into an everyday schedule, you can practice them together with weight loss, monetary or philanthropic goals for 2017 and beyond.
Brush Correctly
Think that a 20-second brushing session with a fluoridated toothpaste is enough to properly eradicate plaque and bacteria? Think again. Proper brushing requires at least two minutes of your morning and nightly routine. Using an electric toothbrush that automatically breaks the recommended 120 seconds into four, 30-second increments for each quadrant of your mouth. Manual toothbrush owners can use a stopwatch to track brushing time until two minutes becomes habitual.
- Brushing hard is only going to wear out the enamel on teeth’s surface, so use gentle strokes.
- Use a soft bristle brush deep clean those nooks and crannies (including fillings and crowns) without harming enamel.
- Brush both the inner and outer surfaces of teeth.
- Brush your tongue for fresher breath.
- Fluoride-free toothpaste is available with anti-plaque, whitening, sensitivity, cavity protection and strengthening benefits.
Start Flossing
Brushing helps reduce your risk of periodontitis and related illness, but flossing removes food particles between each tooth and minimizes plaque. Keep a container of floss next to your toothbrush and toothpaste as a friendly reminder to floss each morning and night. Go the extra mile with a to-go container in your purse or office to avoid the all-too-familiar embarrassment of chatting or smiling with food in your teeth. If you have trouble with traditional floss, try plastic flossers with an ergonomic grip. Or, use with an electronic water or air flosser to step up your oral hygiene game.
Embrace Whole Body Wellness
Your oral cavity is the gateway to the rest of your body, and viewing your mouth as an interconnected conduit secures both dental and entire wellbeing. Holistic dentists, such as Dr. Ted Herrmann, apply only biocompatible materials and non-toxic therapies to diagnose and treat oral cavity ailments, eliminating the risk of fluoride-related disorders and mercury poisoning. Rather than applying a bandage to a widespread problem that begins in the mouth, holistic practitioners promote comprehensive treatment plans to support both dental wellness and complete healing. Complete your New Year’s Resolutions by switching to an all-natural dentistry to remove unnecessary toxins from your life.
Make room for proper oral care in 2017 and your teeth, gums and body will thank you in the long-run. Sticking to your twice-yearly dental checkups is a fundamental aspect of achieving your goals. To schedule an appointment with Assure A Smile, call our Miami holistic dentistry at 305-274-0047.
