Dec
New Year’s resolutions are always made with good intentions, but they aren’t always easy to keep. This year, set some goals for yourself that are possible to follow through with and keep going permanently. Focus on getting a healthier smile in 2021, with help from your Haymarket dentist.
It’s tempting to push that scheduled dental visit because your schedule has suddenly filled up or you just don’t feel like going. Commit to seeing your dentist every six months for a teeth cleaning, dental exam, and oral cancer screening. This bare minimum will help prevent oral health problems, which means you can keep your distance from your dentist all the other weeks of the year.
Maintaining your teeth and gums at home is not difficult. Brushing at least twice a day and flossing at least once a day are the bare minimum. And this responsibility will only take about five minutes of your time every day. You might be tempted to skip the flossing, but once you make this job a habit, your teeth will feel that much better and you’ll look forward to digging out the stuck food particles and plaque from in between your teeth, reaching the areas a toothbrush just can’t.
Some people have bad oral health habits. You may see your dentist and brush and floss, but if you are drinking coffee or soda around the clock or using your teeth to open packages, you’re putting yourself at risk. These vices and bad behaviors can stain and damage your teeth. If you’re going to drink coffee, chase it with water and don’t sip on it all day long. If you need to open something, take the extra 30 seconds to locate a pair of scissors – your teeth are not a tool.
Sometimes there are things going on with your oral health that you have no control over. Misalignment, for example, can lead to bad behaviors like unconscious teeth grinding, especially at night. Getting fitted for a customized nightguard won’t stop this behavior, but it will keep your tooth enamel from rubbing against each other and causing gum recession or broken teeth. Often the most effective solution is undergoing Invisalign treatment from a certified Haymarket Invisalign provider, which will realign your smile completely so it will be healthier all the way around.
A severe toothache, jaw pain, swelling, or bleeding – all of these are signs of a major dental problem in the making. You never want to allow an oral health problem to fester and grow. Your dentist can fix anything – if you give her the opportunity. Waiting for a dental issue to resolve itself will never end well – tooth problems don’t go away on their own. Make yourself a priority, and don’t ever be afraid to reach out to your Haymarket dentist for help.
Not sure how you can resolve to get a healthier smile in 2021? Visit Dr. Sina Reangber at LifeTime Smiles to discuss your oral health needs, concerns, and questions. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.