I’m sure you’ve probably watched “A Christmas Story” already and it’s going to run throughout the day on Christmas Eve, so let me do my annual holiday message for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or, if you are a fan of the “Seinfeld” TV show, the Fesitvius (for the rest of us). So, my traditional holiday message for this time of year remains the same: The best dental advice is no secret.
The internet each day reflects our society’s passion for lists. Everyone appears to love “click-bait” items such as “What’s the top five best foods to eat?” or “The five best house-painting tips.” People believe that professionals can give advice that isn’t very well-known to the general public.
However, when it comes to your oral health, there simply are no secrets – there are just some things to DO. The emphasis here is on the DO THEM factor. They are not secret, you just must make the effort.
That’s right. There’s really no secret in having great oral hygiene. You just must actually do it.
The bottom line for good oral health includes:
- Brushing twice each day
- Flossing once each day
- Get a professional dental cleaning and check-up twice each year
- Make wise choices in your food and drink
- For more advice, ask your dentist or dental hygienist
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The first three are simple and certainly doable by everyone.
As to brushing and flossing, no one can find an excuse for not following this advice. Toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss are not very expensive and to be blunt, anyone can take time to brush and floss daily. There is no excuse for not doing this most basic thing.
Of course you either need insurance or will have to pay for a cleaning and exam. The cleaning visit, which at my practice includes the examination, isn’t very expensive and if you are paying yourself one suggestion is to begin saving for it ahead of time.
As to making wise choices about food and drink, you need to remember that drinks which contain sugar can lead to cavities – and sports drinks can be in this category. Further, drinking large amounts of drinks that are highly acidic, including juices, can cause the deterioration of your tooth enamel.
So, in the end, it’s no secret: brush, floss and see your dentist and dental hygienist.
