3 *Achievable* New Years Resolutions for Your Smile!

The New Year is a great time to reset, refresh, and set new *attainable* goals to enrich your life – including your oral health! Taking proper care of your teeth and gums should be an important aspect of your day to day. Here are three easy New Years resolutions to improve your overall dental care:

Drink Lots of Water!

Fun fact: Most people don’t drink enough water everyday, and this impacts your overall health – smile included! The average person needs approximately 8 cups of water per day, not including sugary sodas and juice – which have a dehydrating effect on the body, along with many other unhealthy consequences.

Challenge yourself to cut back on sweet beverages, energy drinks and coffees. Instead, opt for good old fashion H20! When you drink enough water, you produce more saliva – which reduces that acidity levels in your mouth, helps break down food particles, and helps to naturally keep your teeth and gums healthy and clean.

Replace Your Toothbrush Regularly

Are the bristles of your brush frayed from overuse? Do you feel like your oral care routine is pretty darn strong, but wonder why you still have a layer of plaque on your teeth? Can’t seem to kick a lingering cold or flu? Your old toothbrush may be the culprit.

We recommend changing your toothbrush every 3 months – once the bristles are looking frayed, out with the old and in with the new! An old toothbrush harbors sickness inducing bacteria, and can worsen oral health problems.

Floss, floss, floss!

We get it… it’s sometimes a pain – and not the most enjoyable task. That said; flossing is oh so important for the health of your teeth and gums. That little string of dental floss can clean crevices and points in your mouth that your toothbrush simply cannot reach.

Flossing rids your smile of leftover food debris that will otherwise build up between your teeth – leading to cavities, gingivitis and gum disease. Start by increasing the number of times you floss each week, and challenge yourself to make flossing an everyday part of your oral hygiene care routine. Don’t be hard on yourself if you miss a day (or even two!) – each morning or night is a new opportunity to get back on track!

Strong oral hygiene habits can improve your overall health, so try to make your beautiful smile a priority in 2020!

We wish you a healthy, prosperous New Year. Ed Lowe Centre for Cosmetic Dentistry