It’s a new year and the resolutions have begun! For some of us here at Bite Size, it’s all about eating healthier, working out more and drinking less coffee. But adding new dental habits is a great way to start off the year too!
Good oral hygiene and healthy dental habits are an important part of our overall health.
Here are a few ways you can improve your day to day dental habits and fun ways to help our kids enjoy taking care of their teeth in the new year:
#1) Improving brushing – we just finished up the holidays, which means sleeping in, staying up late, eating extra treats and maybe missing a toothbrushing or two. But that’s okay! The new year is a good time to try something new! For kids, there are so many fun options for toothbrushes – ones that play music or have our favorite characters on them, these make brushing more fun! Adding a new fun toothbrush into the brushing routine will give your kids something to look forward to when it’s time to brush teeth and make them want to brush morning and night! All kids, no matter their age, and adults benefit from brushing their teeth 2 times per day for 2 minutes!
TIP: Play a fun song that the whole family loves and make toothbrushing something the family can do together in the new year! Those sugar bugs will be gone for the whole family!
#2) Adding flossing to our everyday routine – we can all floss more, right? Regular string floss, floss picks, water flossers, there are so many options! Go check out the dental health aisle at the store with the kids and see what item catches their eye! If they are excited for the colorful and flavored dental floss that they picked out, they are more likely to use it at home! Flossing should be done at least 1 time per day to catch any food or plaque that gets caught in between the teeth since our toothbrushes don’t reach these areas.
Did you know that toothbrushing alone doesn’t reach every part of each tooth? – about 35% of each tooth doesn’t even get touched by a toothbrush! This is why flossing is extra important 🙂
#3) Eating healthy foods and drinks – choosing to eat a healthier diet can benefit our teeth as well as the rest of our bodies, especially when it comes to snacking. When we are hungry, we tend to reach for quick easy snacks, such as crackers or candies. Many snack items are high in carbohydrates which when broken down can contribute to the formation of dental caries. Limiting these types of snacks and brushing our teeth after consumption can help keep us sugar bug free! Choosing snacks like crunchy fruits and vegetables are healthier alternatives and naturally cleanse our teeth!
#4) Routine dental care – we love to see our patient’s happy and healthy smiles 2 times a year for routine cleanings and exams 🙂
Happy New Year!
