It’s an important time to start healthier habits together…

This blog’s for all of the newlyweds! If you’ve recently married, and especially if you’re planning on starting a family, it’s a smart idea to plan out a diligent oral hygiene routine that works for you and your spouse. Your new life together should be an opportunity to start fresh and implement lifestyle habits that are conducive to healthy bodies and smiles.

Here’s how you can both prioritize your oral health with these five lifestyle tips, and set a foundation for a smile-friendly household for life:

1. Never “brush off” this habit.
   Make sure that your partner (and you) brushes twice a day for two full minutes each time. Yup, this is the recommended guideline for how often and how long you should brush each day (take it from our Hamilton dentist). Encourage each other to stick to this rule, and have fun brushing together! Some couples even enjoy brushing along to music – and this is a great way to make sure you’re brushing for a whole two minutes if you time the session with a song.
2. Get flossy together.
   Make sure you and your other half are flossing every day. It’s so important. If you aren’t flossing daily, you’re putting your smile at risk for gum disease (this can happen with going just a couple days without flossing)… as well as interproximal tooth decay. If your partner could pick up some slack with their flossing habits, encourage them to floss with you, and remind them about why they should. Monkey see, monkey do, after all.
3. Fluoridate your routine.
   Getting into the habit of purchasing and using fluoridated toothpaste if you don’t already is a smart idea, because fluoride plays a huge role in helping to protect the teeth from decay and cavities. It’s science!
4. Keep your kitchen smile-friendly.
   If you maintain a healthy household filled with fresh vegetables and fruits and lacking in sugary or processed foods, both your bodies and smiles will thank you. Encourage each other to limit how much sugary foods and drinks you consume… this will only promote cavity development… especially if you tend to snack regularly on these things rather than eating them infrequently or along with your meals.
5. Set a good example for your partner!
   By supporting each other and practicing these healthy dental habits daily, you’ll be empowering each other to keep up these habits for the rest of your lives. And if you don’t practice these routines every day, it can be easy to fall off track (especially if your partner is)… and this will begin to show in your smiles. It’s not worth it, trust us!

A life of love and healthy smiles…

So, there you have it. Five ways you can help to create a dental-friendly household and practice the right habits together as you begin your new life as a happily married couple! We wish you all the best on your new journey.