As you end the year with family and friends at holiday gatherings, it’s more than likely you’ll be having your fair share of delicious foods and drinks. This time of year also means plenty of cookies and sugary drinks like hot cocoa and flavored coffees to help you stay warm. Unfortunately, these tasty treats can be bad for your oral health, that’s why with the coming New Year it’s the perfect time to reintroduce proper dental hygiene to you and your family’s routine.
At Warr Dental, we’ve been providing exceptional dental care services to the Salt Lake City area for over 60 
years. While we’re here to help you with any dental needs you may have, we also want to promote proper dental hygiene practices to help you avoid any potential dental issues and prolong the health and beauty of your smile.
As you make your resolutions, keep dental health in mind with these daily oral hygiene tips:
- Brush twice a day: At least twice a day, use a soft-bristle toothbrush with circular motions. Do this along the gum line while using fluoride toothpaste that has the American Dental Association (ADA) seal of approval. Brushing after each meal also helps to remove food particles in teeth.
- Floss once a day: Flossing at least once a day, especially before bed, helps remove food between teeth that your toothbrush may miss. You should move the floss up and down between teeth and down to the gums to remove plaque buildup and leftover food. Always floss between each tooth, especially those hard to reach teeth in the back of your mouth.
- Avoid sugary foods: When you eat sugar, bacteria in your mouth breaks it down and creates acids that can erode tooth enamel and even lead to tooth decay. Carbonated drinks also cause this to happen.
- Use an antibacterial mouthwash: Using an antibacterial rinse after brushing helps prevent tooth decay and gum problems.
- Chewing gum after eating: Believe it or not, chewing gum helps promote the production of saliva in the mouth, which naturally washes away and neutralizes acids in your mouth.
- Abstain from tobacco products: Smoking, chewing, or using smokeless tobacco can lead to stained teeth and may greatly increase your risk of gum disease and oral cancer.
- Eating Healthy: A healthy diet is critical for both your oral and overall health. Sugar and starch-filled foods can stick to your teeth which produce acids that can lead to tooth decay.
- Regular dental visits: Visiting your local dentist at least twice a year is recommended because a professional cleaning helps to remove tartar and plaque from your teeth. Regular dental checkups can detect changes or issues with your teeth or gums to prevent problems from becoming worse.
It’s also important to establish proper dental practices with children early as it teaches good hygiene practices that may last a lifetime.
If you’d like to learn more about good dental hygiene practices or wish to schedule a dental checkup, please give our office a call at 801-216-3713 to schedule your appointment. We proudly provide quality dental care to those who live in and near Salt Lake City, West Valley City, and Draper, Utah.
