While Colorado enjoys sunshine almost all year round, nothing beats springtime in Boulder and beyond! As the days warm up, the flowers bloom, and the birds sing, spring is often a season of renewal. This year, consider spring cleaning your oral health habits to get the most out of your smile and keep your oral health in check!
Your teeth and smile are a reflection of your personality, confidence, and overall health. With just a few simple steps you can get any oral health issues back on track so you can properly enjoy the beautiful days ahead!
Refresh Your Toothbrush
The bristles on any toothbrush get worn, frayed, and less effective over time. Also, the head of a toothbrush can become home to bacteria and viruses. Did you experience a cold or flu this past winter season? Time to refresh that toothbrush!
Spring is a good reminder that it’s time to change out your toothbrush or electric toothbrush head. In fact, make this a habit every few months, and you’ll enjoy the feeling of spring cleaning throughout the year. Choose a soft bristles brush that is the right size for your mouth and plan on brushing for two minutes, twice each day.
Replace Toothpaste and Mouthwash
Did you know that even oral health tools, like toothpaste and mouthwash, have an expiration date? Most mouthwashes and toothpaste include a number of ingredients to ensure adequate cleaning, fluoridation, and to avoid plaque buildup and freshen breath. Each ingredient helps determine whether a product is still active.
When spring comes around, ditch your toothpaste and mouthwash and start anew! Unless your dentist has specifically recommended otherwise, buy toothpaste that contains fluoride to help strengthen the enamel of teeth. Mouthwashes are also available with fluoride but, be cautious of choosing mouthwash with alcohol if there are young children in the house.
Commit to Flossing
Spring is a great time of year to start a new, healthy habit. If you’ve been shirking on regularly flossing your teeth, now is the time to make the habit stick! Floss is important to ensure healthy gums and you should plan on flossing every day.
When you get your new toothbrush, toothpaste, and mouthwash, pick out a packet of floss for even better oral health results! Floss is available both waxed and unwaxed. Waxed floss makes it a bit easier when you’re starting out as it helps to glide easily between teeth. Fancy a flavor? Floss comes in different flavors and colors to keep you motivated as you build your new, healthy habit!
Skip the Soda
Just like spring is a good time to begin a new habit, it’s also a great starting point to drop a bad one! You’re probably aware that most sodas are full of sugars and artificial flavorings. While these are not good for your teeth, did you know that, in addition to sugars, the carbonation in soda that makes it fizzy is also acidic on your teeth? Not good!
Instead of reaching for a soda this springtime, make the switch to water or herbal tea! Breaking a habit can take time but this one is well worth pursuing to ensure your oral health is at its best. As you wean yourself off soda, and if you lapse and decide to have one, be sure to rinse out your mouth with water after drinking soda.
Call for a Checkup
Spring is the time to schedule your dental cleanings and checkups for the year! Regularly visiting the dentist, at least twice each year, helps to ensure your oral health is in its best possible shape and address any problems that might be developing.
Your regular dental visit typically includes a checkup of all teeth, a cancer screening to painlessly identify any suspicious signs, digital X-rays, and cleaning to get you started right for the new season! Dental visits can keep decay away, your gums healthy, and your breath fresh, and your smile looking its best!
Looking for a family-friendly dental practice in Boulder? Call North Boulder Dental today at (303) 447-1042 or contact us online to get that spring cleaning check up booked!
