Happy New Year! It’s officially time to get started on those resolutions! If you’re looking for a way to make the next 365 days healthier and happier, a great way to start is with your smile.
Here’s how you can make 2025 your best year ever with these five habits to improve your oral health!
Eat Healthier
When you eat a variety of healthy foods, you not only benefit your body, but you also benefit your oral health, too. That’s because oral bacteria thrive in mouths that consume lots of sugar and carbohydrates. Don’t give these cavity-causing menaces a chance to hurt your teeth: eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and healthy fats, and you’ll reduce your risk of oral health problems like cavities and gum disease.
Quit Bad Habits
If you smoke, vape, or chew tobacco, quitting these dangerous habits can help safeguard your entire body, including your teeth and gums. When you consume tobacco products, you increase your risk of bad breath, gum disease, oral cancer, and more. Quitting not only improves your smile, but it could also save your life!
Limit Alcohol
While you don’t need to give it up entirely, reducing your alcohol consumption can help extend your life and protect your smile. In fact, studies have shown that drinking four or more alcoholic beverages in one sitting increases your risk of gum disease.
Furthermore, if you smoke and drink together, you’re less likely to brush and floss regularly, which can increase your risk of oral health problems like gum disease and cavities.
Maintain Your Mouth
Oral hygiene maintenance is a very important part of protecting your teeth and gums. Regularly brushing and flossing keeps dangerous bacteria at bay, reducing your risk of cavities and gum disease.
Don’t Skip Your Check-ups!
Even if your teeth appear healthy, it’s still extremely important to visit your dentist regularly for your biannual exam and cleaning appointments. These visits allow your dentist the opportunity to keep your teeth looking their best while ensuring that your mouth is healthy and free of illness. With regular visits, problems that could be lurking can be stopped before they worsen, helping to save you time, money, and your natural teeth!
Remember, your oral health is important every single day, but if you’re looking to make meaningful changes to your health in 2025, if you’re not already doing your best to care for it, your smile is a great place to start!
About Dr. Gromling
Dr. Thomas A. Gromling is truly a smile expert. In addition to caring for the smiles of Stephens City patients of all ages, he is a scholar at the L.D. Pankey Institute Continuum for Advanced Dentistry, the Misch Implant Institute restorative program, and the Dawson series of continuing education programs. Dr. Gromling also has advanced training in forensic dentistry and obstructive sleep apnea treatment and is currently on the review panel with CJIS and the FBI to assist with missing and unidentified cases.
To schedule an exam and cleaning, please visit our website or call us today at 540-869-4377.