Looking to improve your smile in 2019? These three New Year’s resolutions are bound to make your smile both whiter and brighter!
1. Cut back on the coffee.
While you might love a cup of steaming coffee to start off your morning, your teeth don’t. Coffee stains your teeth’s enamel, meaning that your smile isn’t as white or as bright.
Of course, we’re not cruel enough to tell you to cut out coffee 100 percent. But it is a wise idea to cut back in the interest of your dental hygiene.
So if you’re known to chug down three or four cups of coffee over the course of your day, try to cut it back to one or two. If you find yourself craving more, try reaching for a cup of green or herbal tea instead.
If you can’t seem to bring yourself to cut back, at least be sure to brush your teeth thoroughly after drinking a cup.
2. Floss daily.
Flossing is absolutely critical to your oral hygiene. So if you’re not a flosser, 2019 is the year to start!
Flossing removes the plaque particles between your teeth, which reduces the risk of cavities and gum disease. Of course, it also keeps your teeth looking white and beautiful. For optimal results, you want to aim to floss twice a day. But if twice a day is too much, at least flossing once a day - at nighttime before bed to prevent food and debris from remaining in the crevices of your teeth overnight - is still better than not flossing at all.
As we say in our clinic: #flossdaily
3. Eat more seeds.
Scientists believe that our Paleolithic ancestors had amazing teeth (in relation to the harsh living conditions and lack of medical care).
The reason?
Anthropologists suspect that, in part, this can be attributed to their high consumption of seeds, which fend off plaque and help to build tooth enamel. Furthermore, many seeds contain high calcium levels, which work to preserve the bone around your teeth and gums.
The bottom line?
If you’re in search of a better smile in 2019, amp up your seed consumption. They can easily be sprinkled across fresh salads, ground into smoothies or grab a handful for a quick, healthy snack.