Stop Drinking Your Calories

Most people know that a Frappuccino has more calories than anybody should be ingesting in a single sitting, but did you also know that it has more than the recommended amount of sugar for an entire DAY? The excess sugar is arguably even worse for your teeth than it is for your waistline! The same goes for most soft drinks, iced tea, lemonade and even pure fruit juice. When you’re thirsty, drinking water is the best choice.

Don’t Bring Home Junk

Out of sight, out of mind is an important philosophy when it comes to keeping the house, and therefore your teeth, safe from the effects of too many treats. After all, eating something you know you shouldn’t is a lot less tempting when you have to get up off the couch, put on your shoes and walk to the store to get it. Just have a cup of tea or a piece of fruit instead. Your teeth will thank you!

Put Your Own Mask on First

When dealing with the demands of work, children, spouses, extended family and the Parent’s Council at your local school, it’s hard to find time for yourself. It’s important to remind yourself that none of the good work you do every day can be done if you don’t take some time for self-care. Have you convinced yourself that you don’t have time to indulge in good oral health care? It’s two minutes of brushing and a minute of flossing twice a day. SIX MINUTES! You can’t take care of all those people who need you if you don’t take care of yourself first.

S.M.A.R.T. Goals

You can’t wake up one day and decide to overhaul your whole life. When it comes to setting goals, think S.M.A.R.T. – Specific, Measurable, Assignable, Realistic and Time-Sensitive. Breaking Bad Dental Habits works as a title for a blog post, but it’s not really a goal. A better example of a S.M.A.R.T. goal would be:

  • Brush and floss (Specific)
  • Twice daily (Measurable)
  • Instruct the kids to do it too (Assignable)
  • Seriously, it takes SIX MINUTES a day (Realistic)
  • Start today (Time-Sensitive)

Once you start applying some discipline to developing better health habits, it will become second nature. Want more information on dental health habits? Check your health and dental insurance coverage details and book a check-up with your dentist for tips that are specific to your dental health needs.