START THE NEW YEAR OFF WITH GOOD ORAL HEALTH HABITS

January is a great time for altering lifestyle habits.

​Bad habits learned over long periods of time can be hard to undo. That’s why it’s best to tackle lifestyle changes in very small steps - the idea is to provide success that drives continued changes.

Lots of people try new fitness programs following a holiday season that included parties, rich food, treats a-plenty and overindulging of same. Some make it; some don’t; but just taking the small step of acknowledging change is needed can often give a person the boost they need to seek an improved lifestyle.
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Lakeport Dental staff suggest that if you are thinking of making changes to improve your body’s health, now is a good time to also make changes to your oral health habits. These ones are simple and easy: Just two small changes to your daily habits can lead to an improved smile.

With these two small changes, you can achieve some success in the health department, feel better about yourself and because of this, you will smile more, and more often.

Are you ready to hear what the changes are? Lakeport Dental staff say you won’t believe how easy it is to begin feeling better … here goes:

1. Change out one of your caffeinated beverages daily, whether it’s soda, coffee or tea, to water. “Water’s so boring,” our hygienists often hear when they make this suggestion to patients. Lakeport Dental staff have come up with a few tips to make water a little more exciting:

- Use tap water and your own personalized water bottle - you may have to buy a bottle to use, but drinking tap water will save you money in the long run.

- Keep the bottle cold - pack it with ice cubes or keep it refrigerated. Cold water seems a little more palatable than room-temperature water.

- If the taste is a problem, infuse your water with non-citrus fruit to add a little flavour. Experiment with different fruits - some infuse more easily than others.

2. Add flossing to your nightly tooth-cleaning routine. We’ve mentioned this before, but according to the Canadian Dental Association, if you aren’t flossing, you are missing out on cleaning more than one-third of each tooth’s surface. Flossing around every tooth can be time-consuming (you’ll get faster the more you do it!), so Lakeport Dental staff have some tips for making it easier:

- Floss while multi-tasking: You might watch 10 minutes of a movie; surf the Internet; read while flossing; go through flyers to make a grocery list; help children with homework; listen to relaxing music; use the bathroom for “other” purposes or stand in front of your closet and consider tomorrow’s wardrobe.

They are pretty simple, these two small changes. The added water is a bonus for your overall health, keeping you hydrated and your salivary glands functioning properly. Flossing will soon become a daily habit you won’t even have to think about - after a few days, you will just reach for the floss like you have been doing it all your life.

Both habits are great for children to emulate, so don’t be surprised when you see your little monkeys copying your water and dental floss habits. Yay, you!

To talk about making changes to your oral health habits, call our offices at 905-934-0235.

Schedule an appointment at the following link: Click Here!

Go ahead, make some changes! At Lakeport Dental, we know you have what it takes to succeed!