Happy New Year!
January is the perfect time to reflect for a few minutes on all we’ve accomplished in the past year and what we can do in the months ahead to make this year even better. Now, we know your new year’s resolutions probably haven’t always included taking better care of your teeth, but why not make this the year for great oral health?!
To get you started, here are 3 simple habits that can make a world of difference for your teeth.
1. Replace your toothbrush right now!
That’s right, new year, new toothbrush! Start the year off with a clean slate (and for ideas on what to do with your old one, check this out!).
Before you brush your teeth tonight, pull out your phone and take it a step further. Open up your calendar app and scroll to the date that’s 3 months from today. Add a new event, name it “Replace My Toothbrush”, and set it to repeat every 3 months. Now you’ll never have to think about it again!
2. Don’t forget about your tooth enamel…
We love when our patients are enthusiastic about brushing their teeth. That’s great! However, make sure you’re waiting about 30 minutes or so to brush after you eat. Depending on what you’ve just eaten, brushing too quickly can brush away your tooth enamel, especially if you’ve had something acidic like oranges or lemons. Try to remind yourself of this this year, and you’ll have stronger teeth by the time next year rolls around.
3. What’s your toothbrush doing when you’re not using it?
Toothbrushes spend a lot more time hanging out on your sink than they do brushing your teeth. This gives them a lot of time to accumulate germs and bacteria if they’re not stored correctly. Make sure you thoroughly rinse after each brushing and store your toothbrush upright to air dry. This gives the water somewhere to go and can extend its life a bit.
Simple enough, right? Here’s to a new year and better oral health!
