Start Small
One New Habit Can Improve Your Oral Health
By Amy Morgan
As we turn the calendar page to a new year, many of us make resolutions to improve our health. While vowing to lose weight or increase a step count are traditional pledges, what better place to start than prioritizing your oral health, which has far-reaching impact.
Stopping a snacking habit can help you cut calories and also benefits your teeth. Continually grazing creates an environment ripe for plaque biofilm to form — the perfect food source and hiding place for microorganisms present in the mouth. The bacteria create acid that attacks the teeth, seeking to exploit any damage or weak spot to begin a cavity, according to the professionals at 7to7 Dental & Orthodontics. It takes 20 minutes after your last bite for the pH level in the mouth to return to normal. Limiting snacks and sugary drinks helps avoid plaque buildup between teeth or along the gumline. Of course, regular brushing and flossing helps, too.
Mandy Dennis, RDH, 7to7 Dental’s Director of Hygiene Operations, encourages everyone to brush their teeth twice daily, floss, use mouthwash and remain vigilant about bi-annual dental checkups to optimize oral health. She also realizes that big changes can be difficult to sustain.
“Just start with one thing,” she advised. “As people go into the new year, they have great big plans, but because they try to do so much, they end up failing. The most important thing is to start somewhere. Don’t try to overhaul everything all at once. It takes 10 days for something to become a habit. Get good at something before you try to add more.”
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The one thing Mandy noted would make the most difference is if those who only brush once a day would add a second time. The next most important priority, floss, and if not every day, at least a few times a week.
“People often tell me they don’t have time, or they are too tired. I ask them, ‘Would you not wash your clothes? You know you need to do that.’ We use our teeth all day long.”
She recommended people add a hygiene habit in where they can make it work instead of reinventing a whole new routine. “Use a disposable floss pick in your car when you are stuck in traffic. Once you start, you’ll see a difference and that will motivate you to keep it up.”
Don’t forgo that visit to the dentist for a cleaning and check every six months. It’s an important practice to keep you healthy and stave off future problems. Regular X-rays can reveal spots on the teeth where the enamel is not as strong. A dental professional can apply fluoride and re-mineralize the teeth. This may prevent cavities and the need for a filling. “If we do need to fill, we still can prevent a more invasive and expensive crown or root canal,” Mandy said. Dental professionals also will look for decay or problems, screen for oral cancer (important for anyone who uses tobacco or nicotine products), clean, brighten, straighten or place crowns or veneers. And orthodontia has never been easier or more affordable.
What better time to begin than at the first of the year? Scheduling your dental visit in January keeps it easy to remember. Starting off with clean, shiny teeth will jump-start your motivation and pay dividends throughout the year.
So, get your family members in before returning to work or school (including those young adults home for the break). You can be satisfied you took a positive step toward your family’s overall health and checked off an item on your resolution list!
