Start the New Year Right with a Dentist in Landrum

The New Year is just around the corner. Did you make your resolutions yet? Even if you have, a dentist in Landrum would like to suggest a few that will help you have a smile that is healthier and more beautiful. Read on to learn what you and your dentist can accomplish together.

Be a Better Brusher and Flosser

Believe it or not, most people aren’t brushing and flossing correctly. When you brush your teeth, always use a soft toothbrush. Use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste and then place the brush at a 45-degree angle against your teeth. In this position, the brush is in contact with your gums as well as your teeth. A good brushing should last two minutes.

Finish your daily oral hygiene by flossing. Hold a section of floss taut between the thumb and forefinger of each hand. Then guide the floss between two teeth and move gently up and down and back and forth.

Make Healthy Food and Beverage Choices

What you eat and drink impacts your oral health as much as your general health. Sugary snacks, sodas, sweetened beverages, and foods that are loaded with empty carbohydrates—potato chips, pretzels and the like—contribute to tooth decay. Limit these types of snacks and when you do have them, be sure to brush afterward. When brushing isn’t possible, gum with Xylitol will help neutralize acids and reduce plaque and cavity-causing bacteria.

Kick the Habit

If you’re a smoker—and we really hope you’re not—then let this be the year that you resolve to quit. Tobacco use increases your risk for oral cancer, whether smoked or chewed. Nowadays, there are so many avenues to help you kick the habit. Check for free online tools, smoking cessation support groups, apps and of course, encouragement from family and friends.

See the Dentist Regularly

One of the most important New Year’s resolutions you can make is to see the dentist regularly for cleanings and checkups. The American Dental Association recommends scheduling these visits every six months. With this regularity, the dentist is able to monitor your oral health and notice problems sooner rather than later.

You’ll also have a professional cleaning. Daily brushing and flossing are important. However, nothing can match a professional cleaning to remove plaque and bits of tartar that could lead to gum disease, a bacterial infection that has the capacity to cause tooth loss.

We hope the New Year gives you many reasons to smile, so make sure your smile looks great. Call a dentist in Landrum today to schedule a visit.

Meet the Doctor

Dr. John Moneyhun completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Tennessee and earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine at MUSC in 2016. He loves caring for his patients working to give them smiles they can be proud of. To learn more about Dr. Moneyhun and Parkside Dental, please visit the website.