New Year Dental Resolutions For 2023

Have you made any yet? If not, here are a few suggestions from our Chelmsford dental team

With 2022 drawing to a close soon, and as this is our last blog of the year, we thought that we would use this time to help those of you who still make new year resolutions.

Although resolutions themselves may not be as common as in the past, most of us probably have some ideas about things that we want to change in the coming new year, even if they don’t last very long.

There is little doubt that the start of a new year is a good time to make changes in our lives. Often these aren’t dramatically big changes, but often small changes that make a significant difference to our day to day lives. Whilst stopping smoking seems to be the most popular one, we urge patients of Blue Sky Dental to include some resolutions which will be beneficial for their teeth and gums in the new year. To help you with this, here are a few suggestions from our team.

Stop smoking

Let’s get this one out of the way. Stopping smoking is usually top of this list as it is well known to cause a wide range of health issues and is also very expensive on the pocket. Fewer people probably recognise how damaging it also is for your teeth and gums, and your overall oral health.

Smoking is recognised to be a significant problem for your gum health. Not only can it cause a dry mouth which allows potentially harmful bacteria to multiply, but it also narrows the tiny blood vessels in your gums. This restricts blood flow and consequently reduces the body’s ability to fight infections in this area. If you smoke, the risk of gingivitis and periodontitis are much higher than if you don’t.

The other real danger of smoking, from a dental perspective, is that it is a major contributor to oral cancer, a potentially fatal problem that appears to be more common than it used to be.

Refresh your oral care habits

You may well think that you look after your teeth well, but sometimes small changes can make a big difference. One of the best places to start is to make sure that you are using the right equipment for the job. First of all, are you using an electric toothbrush? While manual toothbrushes are OK, most dentists now agree that an electric toothbrush will keep your teeth and gums much cleaner than a manual one. There is a caveat here though. It is likely that a brand new manual brush will be more efficient than an electric brush that has a very old head with worn bristles. The fact is that whether you use a manual or electric toothbrush, you should change the brush, or brush head, approximately every three months or before if the bristles appear to be worn down.

The other significant thing that you can do, if you already don’t, is to add dental floss to your teeth cleaning arsenal. Unfortunately, this is something people in the UK don’t seem very good at. Floss is cheap and also very effective at removing food and bacteria from between the teeth. Our hygienist team will happily demonstrate how to use this if you find that you are struggling. It really is worth it!

Watch the sugar intake closely

With obesity on the rise, it is no bad thing to cut back on sugar in the new year. As most people know, sugar is very harmful for our teeth and gums, so if you consume less sugar  you will improve your chances of avoiding tooth decay and gum disease. Be careful though; simply putting less sugar in your tea or coffee, whilst a good thing, will not be enough. Hidden sugars are everywhere now so take time to find out how much sugar you really consume. For example, if you drink ‘luxury’ coffees at a shop, you may well be consuming an awful lot of added sugars, especially if they contain syrups and marshmallows.

Hydration

Water is your friend, unlike high sugar and acidic soft drinks that can destroy the protective enamel on your teeth. Water is free (unless you drink bottled water anyway) and is highly beneficial for both your general health and your oral health. Not only will it help to flush away tiny pieces of food that have become trapped between your teeth, but will also help you to prevent having a dry mouth which can increase your risk of having gum disease.

See your dentist regularly!

Finally, although you can improve your oral health with the above tips, you still need to see a dentist and also one of the dental hygiene team at our Chelmsford clinic. By doing so, you will be able to maintain better oral health and any issues that do arise can be treated in their early stages. Don’t skip your hygienist appointment too, this is a straightforward and excellent way of having the healthiest mouth possible.

To all patients and friends of the Blue Sky Dental clinic, we wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Until 2023  … have a great break!