Setting Healthy Dental Hygiene Resolutions

It’s been found that only around 8% of people keep their New Year’s resolutions. In fact, most resolutions are abandoned by February. Here at Lockett Orthodontics, we think that setting healthy resolutions are a great idea and that learning how to stick with them is invaluable.

Dental Hygiene Resolutions

Below are a few New Year’s resolutions that, with time and effort, can become part of your daily routine and increase your oral health:

• Brush and Floss Each Day – Set a New Year’s resolution to brush and floss your teeth twice a day for at least two minutes with fluoride toothpaste. While many people find this easy to do, flossing is another matter. You should be flossing at least once a day to keep your gums healthy and to avoid developing dental cavities between the teeth.
• Less Sugar – Try to set a limit on the amount of sugar you consume on a daily basis. When the enamel of your teeth is exposed to too much sugar, the enamel can begin to weaken, causing the teeth to become more vulnerable to tooth decay and dental cavities.
• Quit Soda – Not only is soda bad for your body, but their high acid content makes them hard on your tooth enamel as well. If you’re not up to quitting soda altogether, we suggest at least cutting down quite a bit.
• Quit Smoking – Lastly, the use of tobacco products (including chewing tobacco and cigarettes) is the number one cause of severe gum disease in the U.S. Deciding to quit smoking for good will not only benefit your oral health but your overall health as well.

Here at Lockett Orthodontics, we want to make sure all of our patients have a healthy and happy New Year! For information about orthodontics or to make an appointment with Dr. Rhoda Lockett, please contact our Colorado Springs orthodontic office today.