Knowledge Isn't Enough; Reduce Those Carbs!

 

 Last week, we focused on a few things you could change to reduce the amount of soda you drink. Welcome to our 8 part series on Knowledge isn't enough. This is our 7th part, and today we are blogging about Carbohydrates.

 

I know carbohydrates have recently gotten a bad rap, and it isn't their fault. All they do is hang out and provide us comfort when we are feeling down. However, the problem with carbohydrates is that they stick to your teeth. 

1. You don't need to cut all carbohydrates out of your diet; just reduce the amount you consume right before bed or before brush your teeth at night. 
2. Drink a glass of water after you consume them. If you eat carbohydrates for lunch, grab a quick glass of water to remove the food from the surface of your teeth. This is two birds, one stone; you're removing carbohydrates from your smile and drinking water. 
3. Replace one carb item with a fruit or vegetable on your plate—nothing too crazy, just a little less. 

 

Your smile matters; if you have photos of your smile that you love and want to share, please reach out to us on Facebook. Or any of our other social media sites. #drjudystarutzYou can read our other blogs for this series by clicking on the links below. #drjudystrutz

Knowledge Isn't Enough; Know Your Why & Create A Habit!

 

Last week, we focused on a few things you could change to reduce the number of carbohydrates you drink. Welcome to our 8 part series on Knowledge isn't enough. This is our 8th and final part of this series. We have discussed everything from brushing to decreasing soda and increasing vegetables, fruit, and healthy flossing habits. In our final week together, we are going to focus on the overall picture of why? And how you can create habits that last a lifetime. 

 

While our series provided you with three or four steps you could change to improve your habits, you might still be struggling with one or two. That is okay. Growing is hard work, changing habits is even more difficult. This final week, we will focus on what you can do to change your dental practices. 

 

1. Know your why and write it down. Your why is the backbone for what you do. When you have a clear why, it can help you stay in the game when things are difficult, BUt don't just know it, write it down, take pictures that remind you of your why and post them around you, add messages of your why on your mirror, your TV or other places that you look. 
2. Start small and work your way up. Like any habit, it takes time to build. You do not need to implement every habit we talked about in a week. Give yourself time to adjust and implement. 
3. Become what you are trying to achieve and develop an identity around it. For example, you are a person with a boss smile that gets the job done. Or you are a healthy person with healthy gums. When we own who we are, we develop habits that reinforce that. 

 

Your smile matters; if you have photos of your smile that you love and want to share, please reach out to us on Facebook. Or any of our other social media sites. #drjudystarutz

 

Knowledge Isn't Enough; Let Go Of The Soda!

 

Last week, we focused on a few things you could do to eat more vegetables to improve your happiness and dental health. Welcome to our 8 part series on Knowledge isn't enough. This is our 6th part, and today we are blogging about soda. 

 

Soda is a habit that can not only destroy your overall health but can wreak havoc on your smile. Soda not only can cause a problem for your overall dental health because of the sugar, but it can also stain your teeth, reducing the healthy look. Here are 3 ways to reduce your soda consumption. 

1. Reduce gradually. If you consume large amounts of soda, reduce the dose gradually. Take it slow. Maybe cut it down by one and then slowly step down from there. 
2. Replace with water or other non-sugar drink. Your body needs fluid to live. So, consider healthier alternatives. 
3. Make it challenging to get ahold of. For some of the other series, we talked about making it more comfortable; with this one, make it harder. Buy only one can and have it in your fridge, or a two-liter instead of a 12 pack. Place them in a cupboard instead of the fridge, so they are out of sight. Little habit changes can make a big difference. 

 

Your smile matters; if you have photos of your smile that you love and want to share, please reach out to us on Facebook. Or any of our other social media sites. #drjudystarutzYou can read our other blogs for this series by clicking on the links below. 

Knowledge Isn't Enough; You're On A Roll!

Last week, we focused on a few things you could do to eat more fruits to improve your happiness and dental health. Welcome to our 8 part series on Knowledge isn't enough. This is our 5th part, and today we are blogging about Vegetables. Now you may be asking yourself, what do vegetables have to do with your teeth?

 

Well, like fruit, vegetables add extra water to your diet and are excellent sources of a variety of vitamins. Carrots, cucumbers, and leafy greens pack a powerful punch for your smile. In adding vegetables into your diet, our first piece of advice is the same as fruit, 

1. Be realistic. If eating a carrot a day makes you want to throw up, avoid it. But find a vegetable you are willing to eat and enjoy it. 
2. Avoid adding extras. While cheese and other ingredients are enjoyable, the more natural you are with the vegetable, the better. 
3. Start small. If you don't eat vegetables at all, you might be setting yourself up for failure if you decide to eat 8 in a day. However, adding just one serving can be beneficial, and you can build from there. 
4. Share with friends through social media. It might seem silly; we are more likely to implement a habit when we share our goals with friends. 

 

Your smile matters; if you have photos of your smile that you love and want to share, please reach out to us on Facebook. Or any of our other social media sites. #drjudystarutzYou can read our other blogs for this series by clicking on the links below. 

 

Knowledge Isn't Enough; Have You Eaten Fruits Today?

 

Last week, we focused on a few things you could do to add more water to your diet to enhance your smile. Welcome to our 8 part series on Knowledge isn't enough. This is our 4th part, and today we are blogging about fruit. Now you may be asking yourself, what does fruit have to do with your teeth?

 

Well, the fruit is an excellent source of vitamin C, which is great for your smile, but the extra water in there helps to rinse off food residue from food that is high in carbohydrates or remove food that might be stuck on your teeth from other food you consumed. So, this begs the question of how do you eat more fruit? 

1. Be realistic. If eating an apple a day doesn't make you smile, pick a different fruit. With a wide variety out available, choose ones that are going to make you smile. You want to stay away from fruit high in acid or thicker textures like bananas. But otherwise, the fruit market is open to you. 
2. Eat them at a time of day that works for you. We have talked about this a few times in our other series, but you want to stay away from setting yourself up for failure. If you get home from work tired, and the last thing on your mind is what you will eat, avoid putting that into your daily habit. 
3. Make it easy. Cut them up into slices and put them at the front of your fridge in baggies that you can grab on your way out the door. Or put them on the counter by your keys and cell phone the night before. 
4. Set a calendar reminder. We use our calendar reminders for other things; why not this. And attach a photo of your healthy smile eating fruit. It'll put your why at the front of your mind. 

 

Your smile matters; if you have photos of your smile that you love and want to share, please reach out to us on Facebook. Or any of our other social media sites. #drjudystarutz

 

You can read our other blogs for this series by clicking on the links below. 

Knowledge Isn't Enough; Are You Drinking Water?

 

Last week, we focused on a few things you could do to rejuvenate your brushing and flossing habits. Welcome to our 8 part series on Knowledge isn't enough. This is our 3rd part, and this time we are focused on the importance of drinking water. We will talk about the benefits and how you can add more water to your diet to improve your dental health. 

 

Water is the life source for your smile. It washes away the food from the day, decreases problems from dry mouth, and if your water has fluoride in it, it can help prevent cavities. Fewer cavities equal a healthier smile and a happier you! How do you add water to your diet without it taking you? 

1. Start with 2 minutes a day. Yep, that's it; for 2 minutes out of your day, focus your energy on drinking a glass of water. 
2. Start with your 2 minutes being a time in the day that makes the most sense for you. Maybe first thing in the morning, hop out of bed and grab that class of water. Or leave a glass by your bedside. 
3. Use a glass you love. Using a glass that makes you smile or brings you joy can make the experience more fun. It truly is the little actions you take that can make the most significant difference. 

 

Your smile matters; if you have photos of your smile that you love and want to share, please reach out to us on Facebook. Or any of our other social media sites. You can read our other blogs for this series by clicking on the links below. 

 #drjudystarutz

Knowledge Isn't Enough; Floss, Floss, and Floss.

Earlier this week, we focused on a few things you could do to rejuvenate your brushing habits. This time we are going to talk about flossing. And no, we are not talking about the flossing dance move. Although, if you decide to do that while flossing your teeth, would love to see a photo. 

However, we are talking about the all-important habit of flossing your teeth. Your gums deserve it, and we know that it can be time-consuming, painful, and, well, maybe not your favorite part of the day. However, your teeth deserve it, so how can you add this habit into your daily routine start by:

1.  You are picking the time. Suppose you are busiest in the morning, floss at night. If you don't feel like you have time at night, do it in the morning. Pick a time that works for you. 
2. Use a product that makes it easier. If you do not like flossers, then ditch them and pick up the mint-flavored floss at your local store. Pick a new flavor or a new type and try different kinds if you are not sure which you love. 
3. Put out a reminder. Add a calendar invite to your phone, and add fun music to it. So that when it goes off, you aren't dreading it. 
4. Make it accessible. If you go to floss, you have to dig it out to find it; you are less likely to do it. Make it easy. 

 

Your smile matters; if you have photos of your smile that you love and want to share, please reach out to us on Facebook. Or any of our other social media sites. You can read our other blogs for this series by clicking on the links below. 

#drjudystarutz

Knowledge Isn't Enough; Time To Put It Into Practice.

 

You have probably been hearing for years that you need to take care of your smile. Some days you wake up, and you brush for two minutes. You probably even do those nice slow circles that your cosmetic dentist has been telling you to do for years. And you go to bed, making sure to brush for two minutes, gently supporting your gums in the cleanliness process of brushing again. 

 

Then life happens, you forget, you get busy, one day you wake up to maybe find that your fantastic brushing habit has now become a once-a-day habit that is rushed. And perhaps even your gums are feeling it. They might start to bleed, or you may have noticed some recession from brushing too hard. Whatever the case may be, it is time to get back to the excellent brushing habits we know you can do. 

 

So, how do you put it into practice. The science of knowledge is just that. Knowledge, without training or action it isn't beneficial when it comes to brushing your teeth. Here a few tips to get you and your smile back in the game. 

1. Put a sticky note by your bed or on your mirror or gym clothes to remind yourself to brush. Where ever you look first thing in the morning is where you want to put it. 
2. Get a new toothbrush and toothpaste you love. Getting something new can help connect us to the importance of why we need to do it and contact us re-excited about it. 
3. Dance, read, or play music, or meditate for two minutes. Do something fun while you are brushing your teeth. A little jig in the morning never hurt anyone. 

 

Your smile matters; if you have photos of your smile that you love and want to share, please reach out to us on Facebook. Or any of our other social media sites. You can read our other blogs for this series by clicking on the links below. #drjudystarutz