With 2017 right around the corner, you might already be thinking about what New Year’s resolutions you want to make. If a resolution to lead a healthier lifestyle is at the top of your list, don’t forget to include your oral health. Because general health and good eating habits go hand-in-hand with healthy teeth and gums, getting in shape, losing weight, and improving your dental health can be easily tied together as you create new habits for 2017. Here is a list of some New Year’s resolutions that can have a significant positive impact on your teeth and more:
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Eat more healthy foods, such as fruits and vegetables
Eating well is important for more than just your oral health. Eating whole, fresh fruits and vegetables regularly can have a positive impact on your general health and immune system, as well as help fight inflammation in your teeth and gums.
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Quitting Smoking and/or chewing tobacco
Use of tobacco has been proven to increase your risk of lung, throat and oral cancer. In addition, smokers are nearly twice as likely to lose their teeth as non-smokers. If you smoke or chew tobacco, give your body the biggest gift possible by quitting.
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Brushing and flossing twice a day
Brushing and flossing regularly removes bacteria from your teeth and gums, significantly reducing your risk of tooth decay and gum disease. And, while brushing alone helps the surfaces in your mouth that the brush can reach, only flossing can remove the bacteria that builds up between your teeth, so don’t forget to floss!
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Quitting drinking soda
Drinking soda, while extremely common, is terrible for your teeth and general health. Washing sugary liquids over your teeth repeatedly prevents your mouth’s saliva from getting a chance to clean up and do its job, and a regular heavy sugar and corn syrup input is extremely detrimental to your overall health.
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Cutting back on alcohol consumption
Excessive alcohol consumption can have a negative impact on your oral, as well as general, health. Studies by the Academy of General Dentistry show that smokers who regularly consume alcohol are less likely to brush their teeth on a regular basis.
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Visit the dentist twice a year
Visiting your dentist at least twice a year for a checkup can help detect and address issues before they get out of hand. Regular visits to your dentist are often overlooked, but are imperative to maintaining healthy teeth and gums.
Resolve to treat your body and mouth right this year. All of us at Tahoe Oral Surgery and Implant Center support your goals, and we know you can do it!