New Year is the
time for resolutions and challenges. Most of the time, these challenges involve
being healthier. When you come out of the holiday season feeling lethargic from
sugar and squeezing into your clothes, of course you want to take up jogging and
other healthy habits. If you want to renovate your health, you should start
with your mouth. Your whole family can see a Salinas family dentist to
jumpstart the process. Regular dentistry, flossing, and brushing can have
health benefits that extend far beyond your mouth.
Brushing
The first step
to reaching new heights of oral health comes from selecting the right toothbrush.
It needs to be the right size and shape. Despite all the fancy angles and
extras that tooth brushes come with, it really doesn’t matter so much which one
you get. You want one that’s small enough that you can use it to clean your
back teeth. You also want to use one with soft bristles. While it may seem like
it makes more sense to scour your teeth clean, you actually want to be gentle
with your teeth. Stiff toothbrushes can wear away your enamel.
Ideally, you’ll
be brushing after every meal and especially after a sugary drink or snack. You
can arrange this by keeping a small, travel toothbrush at home or in your
purse. If you’re not ready to commit to that, you should absolutely brush a
minimum of twice a day—every morning after breakfast and before bed!
Flossing
While recent
studies have been inconclusive about flossing, the main standard stands: you
should be polishing your teeth at least once a day. Keeping a bit of floss on
hand is also a great idea. Food that gets stuck between teeth can be painful
and unsightly, but it can also lead to cavities over time. Ask your Salinas
family dentist for flossing tips for young children, or those with limited hand
dexterity.
The right dentist
Your Salinas
family dentist should make you feel comfortable. Anxiety about the dentist is
totally normal—and your dentist should be able to help you through it. A good
Salinas family dentist should be able to set you at ease. They should also be
able to take care of your whole family. People with different dental needs
might need a specialist’s care, but in general you should be able to go to one
dentist for everything.
The health impact extends beyond
the mouth
A healthy mouth
may help you have a healthier heart! The presence of gum disease is strongly
correlated to the presence of heart disease. Clean up your gums and you can
limit the number of bacteria entering your blood stream through your mouth.
Plus, when you take care of your health in one area, it’s easier to do so in
others as well.
Your new year’s
resolution could be easier to keep than you think. Outfit yourself and your
family with the essentials this new year: a good toothbrush, plenty of floss,
and Dr. Cureton your Salinas family dentist. Improved health is just a resolution away.
