The holidays are a time of indulgence, and never more so than this year. After a long, difficult 2020, many people have taken great comfort in celebrating the holidays with eggnog, roast turkey, brisket, red wine before relaxing with loved ones over little bowls of chocolate and candy.
While a Hanukkah or Christmas feast followed by a lazy holiday eating whatever strikes your fancy is a fine way to close out the year, as January begins it’s always important to get back to into your usual routine — especially if you are working from home due to the coronavirus lockdown.
Healthcare experts have long understood that healthy habits rely on regular routines, and keeping up good oral health practices can be difficult when they are disrupted for long periods of time. Even a few months of negligence can have a serious impact on your teeth, which is why you should book your appointment at our dental clinic in Hamilton and start out the new year with these oral health habits:
1. Time Your Brushing
According to the American Dental Association, you should brush your teeth for two minutes, twice a day if you want clean your teeth and gums properly.
But as many people will remember from the early days of the pandemic when government agencies encouraged everyone to wash their hands for at least twenty seconds, it can be hard to judge just how long two minutes is if you aren’t timing it in some way.
Next time you brush your teeth, set a timer and then brush as you normally would. Chances are, you’ll be surprised at how under the mark you are.
Training yourself to brush for longer may feel somewhat unnatural at first, but if you stick with the discipline, you will soon get an intuitive sense for how long you should be brushing.
If you feel like you’re simply going over the same parts of your mouth, or your mouth hurts after you brush, check out these common brushing mistakes. It’s easy to get into bad habits over time, and it can be useful to be intentional about brushing correctly.
2. Set Flossing Goals
Like brushing, flossing is something you should be doing on a daily basis. But as with brushing, using the right flossing techniques is just as important as putting in the time going between each tooth.
In addition to removing large chunks of food from between your teeth, flossing should also get down into the spaces where your tooth meets the gum — a critical juncture where plaque evades your toothbrush and hardens into tartar.
If you don’t floss regularly, you may find that your gums bleed profusely when you do. This may actually be a sign that you simply need to floss more, but it may also be a sign of a more serious problem, so make sure you book an appointment with your dentist immediately if this is something you’re noticing.
3. Book Your Dental Appointments Early
Daily oral health care is important if you want to keep your teeth and gums strong, but there are some things you just won’t be able to do at home.
Even if you brush and floss multiple times a day, over time plaque and tartar will build up on your teeth, eroding the enamel and lead to tooth decay. In some cases, it can even reach the roots, causing gum problems and a breakdown in the bone supporting your teeth.
One of the reasons it is so important to have regular check-ups with your dentist every six months is so that plaque and tartar can be removed before they have a chance to harden and build up. If you avoid going to the dentist regularly, your cleanings will take longer and possibly be more painful.
If you want to make sure that your appointment takes place at a convenient time, make sure to book an appointment early so you can choose the time of day that works best for you.
4. Plan Any Major Dental Work Ahead of Time
If you’ve decided that 2021 is the year you want to make cosmetic dentistry changes you’ve been thinking about for a long time, make sure you get in touch with the best dentist in Hamilton so you can start planning your care together.
For example, if you want this to be the year you try Invisalign so you can get that dazzling smile you’ve always dreamed of, make sure you contact your Hamilton dental office in advance and talk to your dentist about your intentions.
Not only will this help you explore all your options, it also ensures that you can plan your personal life around this major orthodontic procedure.
5. Eat for Your Teeth
Finally, one of the most impactful things you can do to boost your oral health day-in and day-out is to incorporate foods that are good for your teeth into your diet.
Yoghurt, cheese, and milk all contain the calcium that is essential to building strong teeth, and if you’re looking for foods to snack on during the day, choosing crunchy vegetables like carrots and celery will not just give you a healthy snack, but will also clean your teeth.
Drinking lots of water will also help to remove food particles throughout the day, and if the water contains fluoride, every glass will go a small way toward building stronger teeth.
There is nothing wrong with enjoying sweet foods and drinks every once in a while, but after the excesses of the holiday season, it’s important to be disciplined about getting back to healthy habits in an intentional way.
And as you start to think about the year ahead of you, it’s also a good idea to start planning those all-important visits to your Hamilton dental clinic for regular check-ups and cleaning. If you want to start the year of right in terms of your oral health, call Dentistry on 7th and book your appointment today.