New Year’s Resolution: Follow These 3 Tips to Improve Your Oral Health This Year

As you welcome the new year, it’s the perfect time to set goals that benefit your health, and that includes your oral health.

Our team of dentists at Smile Design Studio of Bethesda — named the Top Dentists for 2024 by Bethesda Magazine  — are here to help you with your mission to improve your oral health.

Read on to learn three simple tips to improve your oral health this year.

1. Brush and floss consistently (and correctly)

Brushing and flossing are the foundation of good oral health, but doing them the right way makes all the difference. Brush your teeth at least twice a day for two full minutes — that’s just 30 seconds per quadrant in your mouth.

Ditch your hard-bristled brush, because it can damage your enamel. Instead, use a soft-bristled toothbrush paired with fluoride toothpaste.

Floss at least once a day to remove food and plaque between your teeth — areas where your toothbrush alone just can’t reach. You may need to floss more than once, especially if food becomes stuck between your teeth. 

Consider keeping an oral hygiene kit in your purse, briefcase, or school bag. Stash a few flossers and a travel toothbrush, so you can stay fresh all day long.  As a bonus, if you wear Invisalign ® clear aligners, this kit means that you can easily brush your teeth before putting your trays back in after lunch.

If traditional flossing is tricky, try a water flosser or floss picks to make the process easier. If you have a dental bridge, try flossing with an interdental brush to remove plaque and debris from under your bridge.

2. Clean your tongue

Good oral hygiene isn’t just about cleaning your teeth, so don’t forget to gently clean your tongue to remove bacteria that cause bad breath. 

If you haven’t used a tongue scraper, try it in the new year. Using one can remove up to 30% more volatile sulfur compounds (chemicals produced by bacteria that cause bad breath) than brushing your tongue.

When you’re done using your tongue scraper, clean it after each use.

3. Limit your sugar intake

“Eating healthy” and “cutting sugar” are two common New Year’s resolutions, and both of those can have a big impact on your oral health.

It’s no secret that what you eat affects your oral health. Sugary snacks, sodas, and energy drinks feed harmful bacteria that cause tooth decay and cavities.

Instead, choose healthier options like crunchy vegetables, fruits, and dairy products like yogurt and cheese. 

Cheese, in particular, can help reduce cavities by strengthening your teeth (because of the phosphorus and calcium in cheese) and helping to stimulate saliva to wash away bacteria and food debris. Aged cheese, soft-ripened cheese, and bleu cheese are the ones to choose. Spray cheese and processed cheese don’t give this same benefit.

You don’t have to give up sweets forever, though. When you indulge in sweets, rinse your mouth with water afterward and wait at least 30 minutes before brushing.

Bonus tip: schedule your routine cleanings for 2025

Even if your teeth feel fine — and even if you implement the three tips above — plaque buildup and early signs of cavities or gum disease can go unnoticed. Treva Willis, DDS; Michael Wright, DDS; and Maria Wright, DDS, can identify problems early and prevent them from becoming more serious (and expensive). 

Plan to schedule a dental checkup at the Smile Design Studio of Bethesda every six months for a professional cleaning and comprehensive exam. If it’s been a while since your last dental cleaning and exam, make your appointment a priority this year.

Not only does your dental exam help prevent issues by removing tartar and calculus, but regular checkups give us a chance to spot any red flags. For example, if our team detects a small cavity, we can fill it before it causes bigger problems down the road in 2025.

To get started with your next cleaning, call 301-907-8201 to speak with our friendly team. You can also use our online portal to schedule a visit at our Bethesda, Maryland, office.