Dr Radia’s Top Dental New Year’s Resolutions

1. Brush twice a day

For optimum dental health, Dr Radia suggests brushing your teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice a day for about 2 minutes to help keep your teeth and mouth healthy. Plaque is a film of bacteria that coats your teeth if you don't brush them properly. It contributes to gum disease and tooth decay.

In addition to brushing, it’s important to also clean between your teeth once a day. You can use dental floss or another interdental cleaner like floss picks or a water flosser. Cleaning or flossing between your teeth helps remove plaque and food particles that often get stuck under your gum line and between your teeth.

2. Make and keep regular check-ups and hygiene appointments

However good your oral hygiene is at home, check-ups and appointments with a professional dental hygienist are still essential. A large part of prevention is ensuring you are maintaining good oral hygiene practices between visits. This involves getting the right oral care products, as well as being mindful of your daily habits. If it has been more than 6 months since your last dental cleaning, you’re due.

3. Healthy eating

Focus on a well-balanced diet with an emphasis on calcium-rich foods such as yoghurt, cheese and low-fat or fat-free milk to help you have strong teeth and bones. For those who don’t consume animal products, soy milk (especially fortified) or beans and lentils are also a good source of calcium.

As part of your healthy eating habits, you should remember to keep sugar at bay. Plaque and bacteria use sugar to produce acids that attack your enamel.

The good news is that not all chocolate is bad for your teeth. Dr Radia recommends eating dark chocolate which has a higher percentage of cocoa (85%) than Milk chocolate. Milk chocolate has a higher sugar content which makes it tastier but can lead to tooth decay.