It’s that time of the year again for making New Year’s resolutions. Did you know that this has been a tradition for many centuries? According to history the concept started with the ancient Babylonians. During a religious festival where they crowned or reaffirmed their King, they also made promises to the gods to pay their debts and return any objects they had borrowed. Later in ancient Rome, the Romans offered sacrifices to the deity and made promises of good conduct for the coming year.
It’s fairly easy to make a New Year’s resolution. But keeping them can be difficult, especially if one has developed habits that are hard to break. In regards to having healthy teeth, we would like to give you some tips that may make it easier for you to have good oral hygiene for this coming year.
Brush
Ideally you should brush your teeth after each meal and snack. If this is not possible, minimally brush your teeth at least twice a day. This can do a lot for keeping cavities in check. Replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months or sooner if the bristles become frayed or irregular.
Floss
We cannot overemphasize the importance of flossing. Brushing alone will not get the food particles out from between your teeth. Make sure to floss at least once a day.
Drink Water
Drinking water is good for your health in general. It also helps to wash out the food particles, especially sugar after you have had a sugary treat.
Vitamins
Getting enough vitamins from the food you eat or supplements is essential for your health. Vitamin C and D are especially important for maintaining healthy gums and strong teeth. There are foods you can eat high in these vitamins. Vitamin C: spinach, kale, parsley, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, papayas, strawberries, oranges, kiwis, and lemons. Vitamin D: fish, egg yolks, cod liver oil, spinach, kale, okra, collards, soybeans and white beans.
Keep Your Regular Cleanings and Checkups
Keep your 6-month cleanings and checkups. When you forget or skip your regular cleanings plaque builds up and becomes much more difficult to remove, leading to higher incidence of cavities, gum disease, and other dental problems. We’ll do our best to schedule an appointment to accommodate your schedule so you don’t miss any appointments.
In summary, if you work on doing the above as part of your daily routine, you’ll find them becoming positive habits. You will have done a great job taking care of your teeth this coming year and you will have helped yourself avoid the high costs that go along with extensive dental procedures in the future.
If you are not scheduled for your next 6-month cleaning and checkup, give us a call: (503) 257-3033. Wishing you all the best for a prosperous and healthy New Year from your Portland Dentist, Carothers Family Dentistry.
Sincerely,
Dr. Dave