Healthy Dental Resolutions for the New Year

As we begin to wave goodbye to 2017 in order to say hello to 2018, it’s time to start planning those New Year’s resolutions. As a provider of orthodontics for kids in Roy, our team at Dr. Carr Orthodontics has a few suggestions on resolutions our patients can make help ensure a healthier, better-looking smile for 2018 and beyond. With that in mind, here are a few resolutions that make a big difference in your oral health.

Resolve to Practice Quality Oral Hygiene Every Day

While this particular resolution is an important one regardless of whether you wear braces, those undergoing orthodontic treatment have extra motivation for maintaining their daily oral hygiene. Braces create places where lingering food particles that remain in the mouth after eating can become trapped and build up. When bacteria and food remain in your mouth, they can increase your risk of calcium buildup, gum disease, and tooth decay. In some extreme cases, failing to properly clean your teeth while wearing braces can lead to the demineralization of your teeth.

To keep your smile looking its best, you need to take the time to brush after every meal. If you don’t have the time or opportunity to brush, it’s important that you thoroughly rinse your mouth after each meal. It’s also important to make flossing an important part of your daily hygiene routine. To ensure that your teeth, brackets, and wires are cleaned correctly, you will need to take a little more time than usual when brushing. Make sure to brush the top, bottom, front, and back of each tooth, while also brushing close to the gum line and along all of your chewing surfaces.

Resolve to Schedule Regular Oral Hygiene Appointments

While you’re receiving treatment with our team at Dr. Carr Orthodontics, you need to make sure that you continue to schedule dental regular cleanings and exams. You may need to occasionally undergo an additional cleaning, depending on your current oral health and commitment to hygiene.

Some dentists may ask that you have the wires of your braces removed prior to an appointment. That’s no problem. Schedule an appointment with our team and we can remove the wires of your braces before your cleaning and then replace them quickly once your teeth are cleaned.

Resolve to Protect Your Smile by Wearing Your Retainer Daily

While Dr. Carr understands who excited our patients get by the idea of having their braces removed, it’s vital to the successful completion of your orthodontic treatment and to the longevity of your smile that you wear your retainer daily. If you’ve recently had your braces removed or will have them removed at some point in 2018, you need to make just as big a commitment to your retainer as you did to wearing braces.

Resolve to Drink More Water and Less Sugary Beverages

One of the easiest steps you can take to help improve the long-term health of your teeth is to drink more water and less artificially sweetened beverages like soda and sports drinks. Harmful oral bacteria in the mouth use the sugars found in the foods and drinks we consume to produce harmful acids that slowly dissolve tooth enamel, which increases your risk of decay and cavities. Cutting back on the amount of sugar you consume will not only benefit the health of your teeth but your overall health as well.