Your smile is beautiful, your teeth are white, and your confidence is high! You’ve worked hard to get your teeth and smile in great shape – let’s make sure they stay that way with these simple tips for the New Year!
Resolution #1: Light Diet
Anything you eat or drink that could stain a white t-shirt will stain your lovely, white teeth. Red wine, black tea, coffee, sodas, and dark fruit juices are all candidates to spoil your smile. Consider replacing these with light-colored alternatives such as white wine, green tea, lemon-lime sodas, and water.
If you’d prefer to stick with your favorites, simply have drinking straws available wherever you go! Drinking through a straw avoids potential staining. Another option is just to rinse your mouth out after drinking or eating anything that might cause teeth stains.
Resolution #2: Crunchy Snacks
In-between snacking can be a cautious endeavor; you need to be sure you’re not loading on unwanted calories or idling eating food with no nutritional value. However, there are several snacks that not only provide great nourishment but also help keep your teeth clean and white!
Next time you’re looking for a great snack, grab celery, apples, and carrots. These crunchy, fibrous treats act like a natural toothbrush to rub off food particles on and between your teeth. By chewing on these crispy foods, you will chew for longer, which will help produce extra saliva to wash away food and bacteria and increase blood flow. Crunchy snacks are the best!
Resolution #3: Banish Bacteria
A clean mouth is key to good oral health and to avoid cavities, gum disease, bad breath, and to ensure your teeth are bright and white.
Start the New Year off right by replacing your toothbrush! Even though you are brushing your teeth twice a day, worn or bent bristles aren’t cleaning your teeth properly. Also, be sure to brush your tongue every time you brush your teeth. Using a toothbrush or a tongue scraper removes plaque and is a simple way to freshen breath.
Floss every day! To help make this habit truly ingrained, practice flossing with your eyes closed. It’s easier than you think and will allow you to floss anywhere, easily. Keep packets of floss with you, in your car and at work, to make this resolution even easier to adopt.
Bonus Resolution: Check Off Checkups
You’ve got an exciting year ahead. Make things easier on yourself and go ahead and pre-book your two six-monthly checkups with your dentist. Getting these on the calendar at the beginning of the year ensure you’re taking the best care of your oral health. Checkups are also a great opportunity to plan any whitening touch-ups that are needed to keep you smiling all year long!
