Happy New Year!

Happy 2018! For most of us, the New Year signals a time to make resolutions for the months ahead.  Many of these resolutions revolve around health. How many of us think to include our dental health?

It’s to your benefit to place importance on your oral health. Remember that science shows a link between the health of your mouth and your overall health.  Now, a healthy mouth will not magically solve all your medical problems, but it also won’t hurt them. You’ll also have the added benefit of being more likely to keep your own teeth and being less likely to have gum disease or dental cavities.

If it’s been a while since you’ve seen a dentist, you will probably need to start there. Hard calculus or tartar needs to be removed at a dental office so that your gums can heal. Just like a pebble in your shoe causes pain and soreness in your feet, hard buildup on your teeth does the same to your gums. Dental cavities or infections also need to be addressed.

Once you have your mouth on the road to its best dental health, you can maintain it by brushing twice a day, flossing once a day to clean the areas where your toothbrush can’t reach, and seeing your dentist at regular intervals.

Of course, we all know that despite our best intentions, many resolutions are discarded within the first few weeks of the New Year. In fact, this very subject came up recently at a brunch meeting at which I first heard of a simple method taught by BJ Fogg, PhD for making something new a habit. It’s a very simple method with only 3 steps. You can see the original at http://www.slideshare.net/captology/3-steps-to-new-habits but I will share the basics here:

• Step 1: Simplify what you want to do into very small steps. It might even be so small as to seem silly. For example: Moving the postcard from your dentist to a spot where you’ll see it everyday, Moving your floss container so it sits next to your toothbrush or toothpaste, or Committing to flossing one tooth a day.
• Step 2: Decide after which step in your current routine, this step will fit. Putting it after an action that is part of your routine will make it easier to remember. For example, you might decide to Floss one tooth after your morning toothbrushing or right after you eat lunch or to Preschedule your next dental check up visit while you’re at your dentist’s office so you don’t have to remember to call for an appointment.
• Step 3: Focus on incorporating this tiny step into your routine each and every day. At first you will probably need reminders, but over time it will become easier.

You’re probably saying “How will committing to flossing one tooth make a difference?” Starting with a small commitment that you know you can keep increases your chances of success. Once you’ve successfully built this small piece into your routine, you can start the process over again with the next small step. Seeing yourself succeed at each of these smaller steps will spur you on to continue the process until you reach the desired result.

If you do not have a dentist to start you along this process, I invite you to call my office at 440-960-1940. You may also find me on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jennifer-G-Robb-DMD/155656471166849 or on the web at www.drjrobb.com