New Oral Habits for a New Year

Are you someone who likes to make goals when the new year approaches? Do you take time to reflect? The purpose of creating goals is usually to improve your life and bring more fulfillment.

Have you considered making goals related to a healthy smile? Your smile not only brings you confidence, but your teeth allow you to chew and speak properly.

We often want to make a behavior change, like brushing longer or cleaning between our teeth more often, but we can’t seem to align our desire with our behavior. Let us face the challenge with a renewed hope that comes with a fresh start!

Here are some ideas for improving your dental health at home.

1. Reflect on your current routine. When you think about your daily oral hygiene habits what do they consist of? What oral hygiene tools are working well for you? What areas of your mouth are difficult to clean? Are there special tools available that could assist you? How long do you brush your teeth for?
2. List things that you could do differently. Although every mouth is different and your home care regimen should be unique to you, here are some basic guidelines to remember. Brush twice a day for 2 minutes and clean between your teeth daily.
3. Explore different oral hygiene tools available. Perhaps flossing is too difficult for you to accomplish, so have you considered interdental brushes or TePe EasyPick™? Know your mouth. If you are missing teeth or have a prosthesis, like a bridge or implant, there are TePe specialty brushes that can help you increase your access to removing plaque effectively.
4. Start one day at a time. Think about what will work for you. Set timers or reminders on your phone. It takes time to develop habits.

Remember your teeth are not only about appearance and facial structure, but they also help us chew, speak and a healthy smile will bring you confidence. Good luck achieving your oral health goals for 2023!