Is Self-Care one of you Resolutions?

Oh hey! So we hear that all things 'self-care' are trending right now - we can't go a day without hearing about self-care-this and self-care-that. And that's excellent! People are realizing that they should be investing in themselves - otherwise, they'll get frustrated, experience fatigue, find themselves with increased anxiety levels, burn out, etc. But, as fun-sounding as a spa day might be, or taking off to go travel, a major part of self-care is taking care of your overall health as well as your oral health.

Yes. Oral. Care. Is. Self. Care.

It's not just about having a nice-looking smile - although there is a self-confidence boost when people improve their teeth! But, having healthy teeth can also improve your digestion (they are there to help you masticate your food, after all!) There's a connection between poor oral health and some conditions like heart disease and Alzheimer's. And let's not forget how an oral infection can change a regular day to a miserable day!

But the good news is that it is easy - and a lot of it has to do with home care.

Invest 2 minutes, twice a day to brush all your teeth thoroughly.
Invest the time to floss daily.
You can invest in an electric toothbrush, but manual brushes are fine too (it has more to do with your technique and time spent brushing than having the latest gadget - so be sure to invest the TIME you spend on your teeth).
Invest in routine hygiene appointments.
Invest in repairing anything that's worn away or is broken - because problems don't get better on their own and they often become costlier, the longer you wait.
Invest in a healthy diet - especially if you love sweets, either consider reducing the amount consumed or you can also kick it up a notch in terms of improving your oral hygiene!
Invest in preventative, prophylactic procedures and/or appliances like retainers or trays you wear for night grinding - so you're either protecting your teeth from shifting or protecting them from damaging themselves.