By Dr. Iman Sadri
January 1, 2017
Every year there are many images, sounds and messages that you are innundated with during New Year’s. One such message is the task of setting New Year’s Resolutions. Setting resolutions is the act of being motivated. Keeping New Year’s Resolutions is the act of being proactive. One such New Year’s Resolution that provides value to the betterment of your overall health and wellness is taking care of your smile and oral health. Here are 5 New Year’s Resolutions for a Healthy Smile :
1) Brush Twice Per Day for 2 Min Each Time
The ideal frequency for brushing is after every meal. But for most, this becomes an unrealistic target. A majority of kids I ask how often they brush their teeth per day, there answer is once. Brushing twice per day, for 2 min each time, morning and night will help maintain a low plaque level around teeth and gums. It is the accumulation of this plaque that leads to cavities and gum disease. Brushing helps disturb the plaque layer over and around teeth.
2) Floss Every Night Before Brushing
Flossing every night helps to prevent cavities between teeth. Flossing also helps prevent gum disease and periodontitis. As plaque hardens it turns into a rock like substance, called calculus. The plaque and calculus accumulation releases bacteria that can eat away the gum and lead to bone loss. In cases of advanced gum disease, called periodontitis, teeth can eventually become loose.
3) Use OraBoost
OraBoost is a gingival nutraceutical gel that comes in manh flavors, (most popularly peppermint) that helps freshen breath and lead to stronger and healthier gums. Applying OraBoost twice per day on your gums can help maintain fresh breath. Most mouthrinses have short efficacies and are difficult to carry around. OraBoost is as thick and lock as a marker, making it easily portable. It helps provide a direct addition of fresh breath on the go.
4) Visit Your Dentist For a Cleaning Twice Per Year and Preventative Care
It’s not enough to brush and floss daily. Visiting the dentist twice per year to obtain a prophylaxis dental cleaning is imperative to the health of teeth and gums. Studies have shown that a cleaning at a dental office helps remove plaque and calculus that may be hard to remove with everyday brushing and flossing. In addition, visiting your dentist can help prevent small cavities from turning to larger ones. In children and young adults dental sealants help prevent accumulation of cavities on the chewing surface of teeth.
5) Using Transformative Ability of Your Best Smile
In many instances people don’t obtain dental care because of finances. In some cases, it’s anxiety. In other’s it’s making time. In many cases, people want to improve their smile but simply don’t because they don’t feel that they are worthy of an improved smile. This attiitde is not limited to people in poverty. Some individuals may otherwise afford dental care but choose not to because they haven’t made it a priority. Many patients underestimate the transformative ability of a great smile. A small investment towards a new smile can pay dividends in the long run. A new, improved smile can be your with be orthodontic treatment, such as Invisalign or traditional braces, which can be obtained in many instances with monthly payments. It could be had with Dental Veneers, which in many instances are half the price of a used car. It can also be had with teeth whitening (at my office), which can remove decades of stains over a few weeks. Putting your best smile forward is extremely transformative. When you look in the mirrior and see your new smile it can help unleash endorphins that energize you to take action in other parts of your life. Your best smile can help you become your best self.
Dr. Iman Sadri is the founder of @HollywoodSmileTV
