New Year, New Smile: 3 Resolutions for Better Oral Health

Good oral health affects our quality of life, from the way we speak to the food we eat. It makes sense to include your gums and teeth in your New Year’s resolutions.

Our team at Smile Bright Dental in Tampa and New Port Richey, Florida, offers a range of services, including preventive dentistry, to help you and your family maintain the best oral health year-round. Here are three resolutions to get you started.

What creates good oral health?

Unlike sharks, who don’t get cavities, human teeth remain at risk. Shark teeth possess a decay-preventing fluoride coating called fluorapatite, which is far more resistant to bacteria and acid than the hydroxyapatite that makes up much of our tooth enamel.

Sharks also avoid sugar, a known cavity cause. And they continually absorb water. Our own oral health would benefit from these habits, as well.

Although fluoride has come under scrutiny over the past few decades, no one disputes its ability to fight tooth decay by:

• Remineralizing enamel
• Limiting the growth of cavity-causing bacteria
• Mixing with calcium and phosphate to make powerful fluorapatite
• Strengthening your tooth surface

Brushing and rinsing with fluoride clearly fights cavities. At certain levels, however, it may cause tooth discoloration (fluorosis) or become toxic. Discuss any concerns with our team.

Three resolutions to maintain your smile

Although cavities affect 60–90% of the world’s population, they remain preventable under the right conditions. Consider the following three resolutions to help keep your mouth and overall health bright.

1. Brush and floss regularly

Floss and brush your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day. Flossing removes tiny bits of food and plaque, and brushing remains the number one way to prevent tooth decay.

Our team suggests you spend around two minutes brushing, using the following technique:

• Place your brush at a 45-degree angle from your gums.
• Brush gently to remove debris from your gum line.
• Clean both your outer and inner tooth surfaces.
• Brush the tops of your molars. 

Rinse with alcohol-free mouthwash that won’t dry your mouth. Saliva naturally flushes out particles of food that feed decay-causing bacteria. Dry mouth contributes to decay and gum disease by encouraging bacterial growth.

If you suffer from dry mouth, we advise drinking more water, eating water-filled vegetables and fruit, such as melon and cucumber, and using alcohol-free mouthwash and/or toothpaste containing Xylitol, glycerin, coconut oil, aloe vera, slippery elm, ginger, and/or B vitamins to encourage saliva production.

2. Eat smart to ward off cavities

Each day, adults consume 15-19 teaspoons of sugar. While Mary Poppins may advise a spoonful of sugar, most dentists recommend cutting back for better health. Too much sugar increases your risk for tooth decay, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity.

Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) recommends that adults limit added sugars, saturated fat, sodium, and alcoholic beverages. Instead of a sugary drink, our team suggests enjoying: 

• Unsweetened coffee or tea
• Sparkling or spring water
• Low-fat milk for added calcium
• Unsweetened 100% vegetable or fruit juice
• Water flavored with fruit
• Blended smoothies without added sugar

Excessive plaque buildup triggers a cycle of inflammation, leading to swollen gums, eventual tooth loss, and gum disease. Untreated, it also increases your risk for diabetes, heart disease, and respiratory problems.

3. Schedule routine dental exams and cleanings

The holiday season may have ended, but it’s never too late to give yourself the gift of regular dental exams and cleanings. Our team examines your mouth for signs of tooth decay, infection, early gum disease, and cancer.

Dental exams detect problems early on to prevent more serious issues later. And regular cleanings help eliminate harmful plaque. 

Keep smiling with good dental hygiene

Maintaining good oral health is the first step in ensuring your overall well-being. Regular dental cleanings help reduce your risk of diseases, such as arthritis and diabetes, by lowering the amount of harmful bacteria in your body. 

Our caring team at Smile Bright Dental offers preventive dentistry, as well as restorative and cosmetic procedures, to keep your new year bright. To schedule your next exam, cleaning, or other dental procedure, call us today or book online anytime.