Young Female Model Fall is here, and many of us are busier than ever with school in full swing and the holidays quickly approaching. It’s easy for your oral health to fall by the wayside when life gets busy, so we here at Utah Facial & Oral Surgery wanted to share some of our favorite tips for better oral health, better smiles, and a better overall attitude.

Evaluate your dental routine

We all know that it is important to floss and brush daily, but it’s easy to forget about oral care when we are stressed or busy. Now is the perfect time to re-evaluate your daily routine and make sure you are taking care of those pearly whites! Are you brushing twice a day? Are you brushing for a full two minutes every time? Are you flossing every night? These preventative measures are crucial for preventing future oral health problems, and finding an extra five minutes to spend on your oral health will be well worth it in the long run.

Try to reduce stress

Stress negatively affects mental and physical health, and oral health is no different. Excess stress can fuel bad habits like teeth grinding and nail biting, which can seriously damage teeth. Additionally, stress can also contribute to poor dietary choices like drinking too much soda or coffee or eating sugary foods. Try to find some time for yourself this month. Exercising is a great and healthy way to reduce stress. If exercise isn’t for you, perhaps return to an old hobby like gardening or reading. Short on time? Even just a few minutes of deep breathing exercises every day can really help when trying to manage stress.

Smile more

Feeling down that summer is over? Stressed out at work? Smiling more—even if you have to try—has been shown to improve mood and decrease stress. Smiling also improves the mood of those around you, and seeing people smile back at you can further boost your mood and self-esteem. Not confident in your smile? Being more confident and embracing your smile is a great way to improve this fall. If you are unhappy with your smile and feel that it’s time to make a change, contact our office at (801) 446-4428 to learn more about some of the restorative options we offer, such as dental implants. Many of our procedures are outpatient and have very reasonable recovery times, making them possible for even the busiest schedules.

Thanks for checking out our tips! We’d love to meet you and help you improve your oral health, so please feel free to contact us if you’d like any additional information.