How to Cultivate Good Habits

We've probably all heard the phrase "practice makes perfect". While it's impossible to be completely perfect with our everyday life, it is important to develop regular, good habits to make sure you are staying as healthy as possible. Access Dental and Dentures prioritizes your health, so we are here to help give you tips on how to create healthier habits in your life. Keep reading to learn more!

Start Small

If you are looking to create a healthier lifestyle, it's important to approach it with the long-term in mind. Take your health journey step by step by tackling one goal at a time. If you try to add a gallon of water a day, 5 servings of fruits and veggies daily, cutting out sugar, exercising for 30 minutes/day, waking up an hour earlier, and more, then it will be very easy for your to get burnt out before you can make a real positive change in your life. 

Instead of trying to change everything at once, start with one small goal. For example: Flossing your teeth every day. We all know that it is an important habit, but it can be one of the easiest to blow off. Make this simple, 5-minute task your first priority for adding healthy habits to your life and see what happens!

Plan for Success

Help remember the habit by giving yourself reminders. Set up alerts on your phone alarm and calendar, or tape notes for yourself in areas you will regularly see them. Visual reminders can be incredibly helpful in keeping you on track.

Replace bad habits with good ones to reduce the temptation of going back to them. Giving up soda and other sugary drinks? Replace that liquid consumption with water. For extra flavor to help prevent boredom, infuse your water with cucumber or lemon and basil. Trade candy for fresh fruit. Berries make a great substitute for that sour candy craving!

Reward each step of the process by keeping track of your new habit with a bullet journal or sticker chart. It may seem juvenile at first, but the feeling you get from regularly rewarding yourself for accomplishing the day’s goal can be a great motivation and reminder to help keep you going strong.

Forgive Yourself

As you set out to start your new habit this season, remember that no one is perfect. If you stumble and drink a bunch of sugary lemonade, or if the day gets away from you and you forget to floss, it’s not the end of the world. Remind yourself why you’re working toward your new healthy habit and get back to killing it the next day. You can do it!

Timing is Everything

Studies have shown that it takes a full 30 days to form a long-lasting habit. During that first month, it is important to perform the habit every day. If you allow yourself “cheat days” within that time frame, it can make it significantly more difficult to solidify the habit.

If possible, perform the habit at the same time every day to get your mind in a subconscious routine. After a month of regularly performing your new habit - say, flossing - it should come naturally!

The Best Local Dentist

Our team knows that changing our bad habits into good ones for the betterment of our health and wellness can be difficult. Especially when donuts taste so good! But, we believe in you. Access Dental and Dentures is the best local dentist for a number of reasons. We have several convenient locations, we can help improve your smile and dental health, and most importantly ... we care about you. Believe in yourself and schedule an appointment with Access Dental to get started on the road to a healthier mouth.

We want to be your dentist because your family deserves a great smile! 

1-877-DENTIST

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Good & Bad Habits for Dental Health

Taking care of you and your dental health is our top priority at Access Dental and Dentures. That is also one of the reasons we have the best dental clinics in Southern Missouri. Today we are talking about some common habits that people may have as a part of their daily routine. Some are bad habits that can damage teeth and should be avoided, while others are great habits to help keep you and your mouth as healthy as possible. Keep reading to learn more and see how many good or bad habits you may have!

DON'T Use Teeth as a Tool

Sometimes it can feel like we don't have enough hand to get a task done. Or maybe our grip isn't strong enough to open a container. Whatever the situation, it is never a good idea to use your teeth as a tool. Ripping open a package, biting down on a soda bottle cap, holding something in your mouth while you get your keys... These are all common bad habits that could ruin your teeth or make you sick. Not only can these actions put unnecessary strain on your teeth and gums, but it could cause your teeth to get chipped or cracked. Additionally, foreign objects don't belong in your mouth where they could be spreading germs to the rest of your body. For those reasons, it's important to use your mouth and your teeth for their intended purposes rather than as a multi-tool.

DON'T Chew Ice

Some people have the bad habit of chewing ice when they enjoy a cold beverage. However, this can be very bad for your teeth. Even crushed ice is very hard on your teeth as they try to pulverize the frozen pieces. This can quickly wear down your enamel and even cause chips in your teeth. If you are craving the habit of chewing without calories that come with crackers or chips, try chewing on gum during the day to get it out of your system. It may also be a good idea to avoid using crushed ice in your drinks for a time so it's not as tempting.

DON'T Drink Sugary Beverages

While they might taste great, sugary drinks wreak havoc on your teeth. The sugar sticks to the surface of your teeth and feeds any bacteria present in your mouth. This allows bacteria to thrive and grow, particularly between your teeth where it's harder to remove. Prolonged sugar exposure and bacteria buildup can lead to tooth decay and cavities. It's better to enjoy drinks like water, perhaps with fresh fruit and herbs infused into it for flavor. If you can't stay away and do consume sugary beverages, make sure to rinse your mouth with water afterward to wash away as much of the sugar as possible.

DO Brush & Floss Daily

Access Dental and Dentures recommends that you brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss at least once per day. Brushing and flossing before bed is very important for your dental health, as it removes any food particles or bacteria buildup from the day. Brushing in the morning is also important as it helps break up and remove plaque that started building up on your teeth overnight due to a reduced amount of saliva washing harmful materials away.

DO Use Mouthwash

While it can't replace daily brushing and flossing, using mouthwash can help boost your dental health by destroying bacteria in hard-to-reach places. A good mouthwash can help give you a more all-encompassing clean that leaves you feeling fresh for longer.

DO Replace Your Toothbrush

Toothbrushes are not meant to be something that you use for very long. Over time, the bristles will start to wear down and bacteria may even build up at the base of bristles from what it has captured while cleaning your teeth. Keep your toothbrush clean while using it - keep it as far away from the toilet (airborne particles) as possible, don't keep it in a cover with no air flow, and regularly clean it with scalding water. This can help keep your toothbrush clean and healthy for the duration of its life. Once your toothbrush is three months old or starts to fade and wear (whichever comes first), then it is time to replace it.

Visit the Best Missouri Dentist

Following these important do's and do not's will help keep your teeth and mouth clean and healthy. However, there are some things that you can't check on yourself. That's where Access Dental comes in! Regular dentist visits are important to make sure no cavities have developed, your teeth are coming in normally, your gums are in good condition, and so much more. Contact the best dentist in the Springfield area to schedule your regular checkups and get on the path to a healthier, happier mouth.

We want to be your dentist because your family deserves a great smile! 

1-877-DENTIST

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