DR. REUSS’ 2016 NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION FOR A HEALTHY MOUTH
FROM A DENTIST’S PERSPECTIVE: I thought that I would give some ideas for those of you looking to add a few New Year’s resolutions to your list. I would love to see more people strive to have a healthy mouth in 2016. What is a healthy mouth?
- Free of disease: This seems simple, but can be hard to diagnose on your own. I see many patients that have early stages of the disease process to the very extreme stages of disease. Surprisingly, pain is not a good indicator of disease. Typically if there is pain, its later in the disease process. Starting with a thorough exam and x-rays can be the first step in getting a good diagnosis before the disease process starts. Resolution #1: Call for a dental check up.
- Improved Oral Hygiene: I know, you must think that you should start flossing. That’s a good start. There are other options and tools available to help with those who are challenged with the flossing idea. Keeping the teeth and gums healthy is an important step in changing the bacterial load in your mouth.
- Reduce Sugar intake in the diet: We all know that eating candy is bad for your teeth, but its also bad for the rest of your body. Reducing the amount of sugar you consume will have overall positive health benefits, including reducing the acidic environment around your teeth. An interesting documentary on what sugar can do to the body is That Sugar Film: https://youtu.be/6uaWekLrilY
