January is the time for New Years’ Resolutions so we thought we would suggest a few to help you Care for Your Smile:

1. - Drink More Water and Cut Down on Sugar (especially sugary drinks)– as well as quenching your thirst and hydrating your skin water helps to rinse away bits of food and bacteria.
2. - Eat More Fresh Fruit and Veg – fibrous foods such as celery help to clean your teeth as they are chewed but do remember some fruits can be high in acid so try and eat with meals and brush your teeth an hour after.
3. - Chew Sugar Free Gum – evidence has shown that chewing sugar-free gum can improve our oral health by producing more saliva.
4. - Make sure you Replace Your Toothbrush or Brush Heads at least every 3 months. If you didn’t get an electric toothbrush for Christmas treat yourself to one in the January sales, they are proven to remove 100% more plaque than traditional manual toothbrushes.
5. - Quit Smoking – smoking causes discolouration of the teeth along with a whole host of health issues.
6. - Cut Down on your Alcohol Consumption - drinking too much has been linked to an increased risk of developing mouth cancer especially when combined with smoking. Red wine is particularly bad for staining teeth and other drinks and mixers can be high in sugar
7. - Visit Your Dentist Regularly – usually at least once every 6 months for a check up and any maintenance like a scale and polish.

If you have any queries about any areas of dental health visit us at Kilbarchan Dental Practice, call 01505 704969 or click www.kilbarchandental.co.uk where you’ll find lots more free tips and advice.