It’s that time of year again when everyone starts making promises for the upcoming year. Most common New Year’s resolutions center around weight loss, getting a better job, finding love, or making more money. But you can also make smaller, yet no less important, resolutions that revolve around your oral health.
Here are some New Year’s resolutions to make for your teeth as we face the onset of 2025. Your dentist in Berkeley CA can help you achieve those goals.
Floss Regularly
Everyone knows they’re supposed to floss every day, but how many people actually do it? The new year is the perfect time to vow to floss more. Take the effort in 2025 to up your flossing game. Not only will this give you fresher breath, it will reduce your risk of gum disease and tooth decay.
If you’re not used to flossing and your gums start to bleed, build up a routine slowly. Start with flossing every other day and then slowly increase the frequency.
Brush Long Enough
You should be brushing for two whole minutes, yet most people brush for far less than that. Set a timer on your phone or electric toothbrush to ensure you’re brushing long enough. Or, you could try humming the Jeopardy! theme song. It is 30 seconds long so you can sing it for each of the four quadrants in your mouth.
Nix the Smoking
If you still smoke, make quitting a New Year’s resolution. Not only will your lung and overall health improve, your oral health will too. Smoking boosts the risk of gum disease and tooth loss, plus it makes it more challenging to qualify for dental implants.
Don’t Consume Staining Foods
Stained teeth not only impact your appearance, but your self-confidence as well. You can try teeth whitening, but the results will not last very long if you keep consuming staining food and drink. Stay away from wine, chocolate, coffee, soda, tea, dark beer, and berries. If you must absolutely drink those beverages, use a straw.
Try an Electric Toothbrush
Still using a manual toothbrush? It’s time to upgrade to an electric toothbrush in 2025. Electric toothbrushes do a better job of keeping your teeth clean, plus many have built-in timers that allow you to fully brush for two minutes.
Stay Hydrated
Drink plenty of water for better oral hygiene. Dry mouths don’t produce enough saliva to wash bacteria away from teeth, which elevates the risk of cavities – not to mention bad breath. Ask for a water bottle for the holidays and use it to refill throughout the day.
Get Enough Calcium
Our bodies need calcium for strong bones and teeth. We all know kids need lots of calcium, but don’t forget that adults do too! Getting enough calcium will ensure stronger roots of your teeth so they can stay secure in your gums. For that, try eating more cheese, milk, and yogurt. Don’t like dairy? Try broccoli, tofu, and almonds, or pop a dietary supplement.
Rinse With Mouthwash
Mouthwash is no substitute for flossing and brushing, but it does improve your oral health. Not only does it reduce plaque buildup, it can also prevent gingivitis and gum disease. And when you rinse your teeth with mouthwash, you are helping wash away food particles that were missed by brushing. Choose a mouthwash that contains fluoride and antiseptics.
Use a Tongue Scraper
Bacteria tend to build up on teeth and create plaque that can even accumulate between taste buds on your tongue. Bacteria can then get trapped, along with food debris and dead skin cells, and must be physically removed. You could brush your tongue with your regular toothbrush, but there’s a better way: invest in a tongue scraper whose sole job is to remove all that buildup.
Visit the Dentist Regularly
Be sure to keep seeing your dentist every six months for exams and cleanings. If you’ve gotten lax about those appointments, use the new year as an excuse to get back on track. Not only do regular cleanings remove cavity-causing tartar and plaque, they can increase the likelihood of early detection of gingivitis or gum disease. And finally, routine dental visits make it much easier to detect and manage symptoms while reversing damage when possible.
Book Your Dental Appointment For 2025
Get ahead of the game and schedule your teeth cleaning in Berkeley CA now to start the new year off right. It’s easy to book your appointment with Ashby Dental in Elmwood today at (510) 549-0133. Happy New Year from the team at Ashby Dental!
