Improve Your Dental Health with 5 Easy Steps

As the New Year starts, you are likely coming up with a list of New Years' Resolutions to improve your health and lifestyle. However, one excellent resolution you might not have thought of that can have a massive impact on your life is to improve your dental health! So here are a couple of habits to start in the new year to improve your dental health for the rest of your life.

1. cut down on staining foods and beverages

Foods like coffee, tea, and soda can stain your teeth, making them seem yellow. This staining occurs because the enamel in your teeth has tiny pores. A molecule called tannin can seep into those tiny pores and stain your teeth yellow. Additionally, acidic foods can wear down the enamel on your teeth, making them appear even yellower. As a rule, if a food or drink can stain your clothing, it can also stain your teeth. While cutting out all staining foods can be tricky, even small steps like using a straw for your morning coffee can help reduce teeth staining.

2. Replace Soda with water

Drinking soda can easily damage your teeth and lead to cavities over time. The sugar in sodas combines with the bacteria in your mouth to form an acid that can weaken your tooth enamel. Damage to your tooth enamel can lead to more cavities in your smile. Diet sodas and fruit juices are also high in sugar and can produce acid that can damage your teeth. Try reaching for water instead of soda to prevent cavities and enamel damage. If you drink soda, consider using a straw to keep sugar away from your teeth and rinse your mouth or brush your teeth after drinking these beverages.  

3. Stop Using tobacco products

Tobacco products harm your overall health, but did you know they can also damage your dental health? The nicotine and tar in tobacco products can quickly stain your teeth yellow. Additionally, tobacco products can lead to gum disease. Smoking can increase the production of bacterial plaque that can cause gum disease. Smoking also reduces the level of oxygen in your bloodstream, so unlike a non-smoker, a smoker's gums are less likely to be able to heal from this gum disease. Gum disease is the number one cause of tooth loss in adults. This year, improve your dental health by quitting tobacco products.

4. Brush and Floss Every Day

One of the simplest things you can do is regularly clean your teeth. Make sure to brush your teeth for a full two minutes twice a day. While most people think they are brushing for a full two minutes, studies have shown most Americans brush for less than sixty seconds. Set a timer to ensure that you are brushing for two mins, or use a "timing song"! The Jeopardy! theme song is 30 seconds long, so if you sing it four times, you have brushed your teeth for the full two minutes.

Another easy way to clean your teeth is to floss regularly. While flossing may seem annoying or make your gums bleed, it is essential to clean your whole mouth. Flossing cleans parts of your teeth that a toothbrush cannot reach. As a result, flossing daily significantly lowers your risk of gum disease and tooth decay. It also will help with bad breath as you remove bacteria in your mouth.

5. See Your Dentist for Regular Checkups

If you brush and floss regularly, you may wonder if you need to visit your dentist twice a year. The answer is YES! Your dentist is professionally trained to check your dental health and can spot issues you might miss. Additionally, your dentist will professionally clean your teeth at a checkup and can catch if you are missing parts of your mouth while you brush or floss. Everyone should visit their dentist twice a year to maintain their dental health. To schedule an appointment with a dentist today, call Alluvion Health’s Dental Clinic at 406-791-9267.

Dr. Cole Funseth is a Doctor of Dental Surgery at Alluvion Health.  He enjoys helping people move forward in their healthcare journey and relieving their pain.