The new year is the perfect time to establish new oral habits that will improve your dental and general health. Since our teeth are one of the most important parts of our body and it is critical that will take good care of them. Improving our oral health involves more than brushing and flossing regularly. Dental health experts have pointed out it also involves adopting habits that can improve your oral health. 

Every year, many people make resolutions and goals around their diet, hobbies, and workout routine. More often than not, they make no plan to improve their oral health. If you are in this boat, you need to you may need to turn this round in the new year. According to the CDC oral health can affect our general health. This means that you may become prone to some serious health conditions if you don’t commit to an oral care routine.

So if you have been neglecting your oral health, the new year is the perfect time to take things up a notch. In this article, we are going to be looking at some oral care habits that you should commit to. 

New oral habits that can improve your smile 

Visit your dentist 

The perfect resolution to start the new year is to see your dentist for an examination and cleaning. As you likely know, having your teeth professionally cleaned will reduce the risk of you developing some oral conditions. Dentists have the tools and experience to remove plaque, food remains, tartar, and everything in between.

Visiting a dentist on a regular basis can also increase the likely hood of them detecting certain conditions on time. 

Do you feel nervous when you think about visiting your dentist? If yes, you are not alone. Here is a resource that can reduce dental anxiety.

Start using a tongue scraper 

Using a tongue scraper is a simple way to take your oral care game to the next level. Toothbrushes are great, but they just can’t remove all the plaque and bacterial build-up on your tongue. Everything from dead skin cells to food remains can easily stick to the tongue. Using a tongue scraper is by far the most effective way to get rid of them. 

Note that you don’t have to use the most expensive tongue scraper on the market to get a good result. An inexpensive one may be able to do the trick. The most important thing is to use it correctly. 

 Up your calcium game 

Calcium is an important nutrient our body requires to develop strong teeth and bones. If you aren’t monitoring your calcium intake, it is easy to fall behind. Always remember that calcium is important for kids and adults. So ensure that your little one is consuming enough calcium. 

Adding more calcium-rich foods to your diet can help ensure that your teeth roots and gum are strong. Below are some common sources of calcium. 

•  Yogurt 
•  Cheese 
•  Milk 
•  Almonds 
•  Dietary Supplements  

Invest in an electric toothbrush- This is one of the best new oral habits for the new year

If you are still using a manual toothbrush you should consider upgrading to an electric toothbrush. According to dentists, an electric toothbrush can remove plaque and clean the teeth better than its manual counterpart. Some electric toothbrushes on the market have special features that will help you clean your teeth better. For example, some electric toothbrushes have timers that will help ensure that you brush for the recommended two minutes.

Reduce your intake of staining foods 

If you are like most people, you want your teeth white and clean. The habits you adopt in the new year will determine if your teeth will be white or not. One habit that can make all the difference is to reduce your intake of staining foods. Dentists have pointed out that foods like tea, red wine, berries, and chocolate can stain the teeth. 

Final note 

There you have it, some new oral habits that can improve your overall health in the new year. Note that you don’t have to adopt all of the above habits to improve your oral health. Committing to a few of them will go a long way in improving your oral and general health.