Building habits is something that most people struggle with. If you’re here, you might be trying to find a way to create effective dental habits. Chiu Dental is all about building long-lasting care for your oral health. Let’s walk through proven methods to start a strong dental hygiene plan.
Anchor Your New Habit
“Habit anchoring” is a scientific way of building habits. In recent years, researchers have found one of the most effective ways to build a habit is by performing the new habit after an established habit. The established habit, such as a daily shower, is the “anchor.” The new habit, brushing your teeth, happens after the established habit. After you shower, you will brush your teeth. While it won’t be something you easily remember at first, the more you perform these two habits in succession, the sooner it will become second nature.
Tip: If you are struggling to stick to the new habit, try placing a sticky note reminder or practice mimicking the movements you would take (for example, stepping out of the tub and picking up your toothbrush, then repeating).
Start Small
As many researchers are preaching, starting small is the most effective way to begin a habit. Starting a new, big routine almost never lasts. If you decide that tonight you will brush thoroughly and floss every tooth every day, that habit might last a while but might eventually stop.
Start small! Make your first step small, and start with brushing for a few seconds or flossing only a few teeth. If you commit to doing this small task every day, you’ll soon find it easy and may increase the amount of flossing or brushing you do.
Know Your Dental Health
As a trusted dentist in Kitchener, we understand that each patient has different genes and oral bacteria, and therefore, needs. While some patients can get away with one professional cleaning a year, patients who are predisposed to gum disease might need more frequent cleanings, such as every 3 to 4 months. Some people may need to brush 3 times a day to have optimal oral health, others may be able to get away with 1. We want to make sure you save your teeth (and money) in the long run—which is why we also want to talk about affordable ways to care for your teeth.
If you’ve never had a cavity, we might only do x-rays once every two years. If you’re predisposed to cavities, you might need to take further steps to ensure oral health. Your diet can help or hurt your teeth—carbonated drinks, including sparkly water, can cause cavities. Carbonic acid that is found in all these carbonated flavoured water bereages has the same acidity as a can of pop! Drinking through a straw can reduce the effect that these drinks have on your teeth but will not completely remove the effects. The same is true of carbs. When these begin to break down in your mouth, the sugars attack your teeth and put you at risk for more cavities! So be mindful of what you eat and drink, it’s not always just the sugary snacks that causes cavities!
Make it Easy for Yourself
If you’re starting a new habit, the best way to ensure you stick to it is by making sure the items you need are easily accessible. Keep your floss and toothpaste/toothbrush on the counter by your sink. This also serves as a good visual reminder. If you are forgetful and need cues, set a reminder in your phone right now to schedule your next dentist appointment!
Do you have benefits? People often put off dentist appointments because of the cost. Find out if you’re eligible for direct billing to your insurance provider. Even if you can only come to see us at Chiu Dental once a year for an oral exam, it can help us catch problems before they become big ones.
Getting the right tools is also important to setting yourself up for success in this new habit. Water flossers are great for people who have limited dexterity or avoid flossing because the action is difficult. High-fluoride toothpaste is good if you are cavity-prone! Let the remnants of the toothpaste sit in your mouth rather than rinsing.
Chiu Dental is Kitchener’s favourite dentist. If you’re looking for a personable, comfortable experience in the dentist’s chair, contact us to book an appointment!
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