The New Year is a great time to reset and refresh lots of important aspects of your life. Your oral health should definitely be high on the list! Taking good care of our teeth and gums is sometimes easy to neglect. This new year, try making some easy to stick to resolutions for your dental care!

1. Get Serious About Flossing:
It’s easy to forget about flossing, as it often seems time consuming and certainly not the most pleasant task. However, flossing is very important when it comes to keeping your gums healthy. If food debris and bacteria build up between your teeth, it can lead to cavities, gingivitis, and gum disease. Resolve to add flossing to your daily oral healthcare routine! If you have braces or a permanent retainer, flossing is even more important. You can buy floss threaders at the drugstore to get underneath those wires.

2. Quit Smoking:
This is a good all-around resolution, as smoking affects your overall health, not just your dental health! The new year is a great time to try to kick this very bad habit. Smoking, while being bad for you in many ways, affects your dental health specifically by staining and discolouring your teeth, and heightening the risk of gum disease and tooth decay. It’s hard to quit smoking, but fortunately there are many anti-smoking aids out there such as the patch, nicotine gum, support groups, medication, and mobile phone apps.

3. Go To The Dentist:
This may seem like an obvious one, but unfortunately regular dental cleanings often fall by the wayside. This new year, resolve to visit your dentist for a cleaning and a checkup. If there are any potential problems with your teeth, it’s best to catch them early by visiting the dentist regularly.

4. Get A New Toothbrush:
Did you know you’re supposed to replace your toothbrush every three months? It’s easy to forget, but very important to regularly replace your toothbrush. Over time, the bristles get worn down and your toothbrush will become less effective. If that’s not reason enough, using the same toothbrush for too long can result in bacteria build up. Yuck!

Make your oral health a priority in 2018! By incorporating good dental hygiene into your everyday habits, it will soon become second nature to floss daily. Even though it may be hard at first, resolving to take better care of your teeth is a rewarding and attainable 2018 resolution.