These days it seems that many of us have found ourselves home frequently and with more time on our hands. Extra hours in the day means that we can embrace new hobbies or focus on self-improvement. We encourage you to take this time to put your oral health into perspective. Instead of telling you to brush twice a day and take up flossing (although, you still should), we’ve compiled together unconventional ways to improve your oral health in the comfort of your own home.
Write Out Oral Health Goals
Get out your pad and pencil. Simply thinking about a goal may turn out to be an unsuccessful practice. Many folks are more likely to follow through with a goal if they write it down on paper. Take the time to sit down and really consider what you want to improve with your oral health. Maybe you want to floss daily or brush as a family morning and night. Whatever it is, write down a realistic goal, and include how you plan to track progress. A simple tally in a journal could be enough to help you track daily flossing. Mapping out one goal will take most people only a few minutes, so you definitely have a moment to try this one out.
Try Something New
Far too often we feel discouraged to try new things. Excuses tend to pop up like, “I’ll try this tomorrow” or “I’ll do this when I have more time.” Decide that the time is now, especially if you’re finding your days a little bare. As an idea, you can introduce a new item into your oral health routine. Pick up a new electric toothbrush, soft picks for flossing, or alcohol-free mouthwash from the store. You might even find that variety makes each day more interesting and fun too!
Consider Swapping Toothpaste
If you’ve ever asked us about toothpaste, you’ll be familiar with the term “abrasive.” When toothpaste is highly abrasive, this means that it’s tougher on the enamel. Ultimately, highly abrasive toothpaste causes wear over time because it can really scratch a tooth’s surface. At our office, we suggest choosing a low abrasive toothpaste. Take a look at this chart so you can make a wise choice when it comes to your toothpaste.
Be Mindful
Have you ever felt like life is lived on fast-forward? Sometimes, our days are filled with tons to do and so little time to take a moment to appreciate the process. Mindfulness is a practice meant to slow you down, allowing you to bring awareness back into the current moment. Oftentimes, we lose awareness when completing routine tasks like brushing your teeth or flossing. Maybe you brush in front of the television or let your mind wander. Take your awareness back to the task at hand to make sure you are brushing gently and getting every surface while flossing. Taking the time to stay alert while caring for your teeth will help keep them in tip-top shape.
Avoid Mindless Eating
We’re running with the mindfulness theme because it can benefit you in more than one area. Mindless eating can easily end in overconsumption, excessive snacking, and choosing foods that are less than ideal for your pearly whites. Bringing awareness into the picture can help combat these tendencies and benefit your oral health.
We recommend opting for more water, sugar-free gum, and adding more veggies such as celery to your diet. Anything that increases saliva production or rinses water over your teeth can aid in removing particles from your teeth. You might even consider cheese as a go-to for healthy teeth. Honestly, we count this tip as a win-win because you’re improving your oral health as well as your overall health.
Talk it Out with A Loved One
Even though we love all the smiles that come through our door, we understand that some patients have insecurities about their smile or teeth. This lack of confidence can arise from disliking your natural appearance, injury, or neglecting oral health. Sometimes, patients will even live with a toothache for years due to shame or fear.
While we would like to see patients be more proactive with their oral health and in love with their smiles, we know that every situation is different. You know your situation best. If you’ve been hiding your unique smile from the world, we encourage you to sit down with a loved one and talk about it. Now, more than ever, we need to stay connected, so take this opportunity to discuss your oral health worries in a judgment-free zone. Doing so will likely make you feel better and point you in the direction of a solution.
With extra time on your hands, now might also be a good time to make an appointment. You can count on us treating you like family!
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