Simple Detox for the New Year

The new year is well under way, and it might be that you’ve already lost sight of those well-intentioned resolutions made on the first of the month. Never fear! Newberg dentist Dr. Jennifer McLeod and her team at Newberg Family Dental offer these simple detox tips that are good for your teeth!

Drink It In

There’s an excellent chance that you are not drinking enough water throughout the day, and water is an excellent way to detox the body. Water naturally cleanses the body and aids in digestion. Drink a full glass (or more) of water about thirty minutes before a meal so that it can prepare the stomach lining for digesting food. Then have a glass of water while eating, as it acts as a natural mouthwash, rinsing away food particles from the surfaces of teeth and protecting them against tooth decay.

To brighten up the taste of water, use all-natural flavors like sliced lemon, lime, other fruits or vegetables in your water. Apple cider vinegar is also an excellent way to change the taste.

Juice It Up

Another way to boost your immune system and detox from the holidays is to add an all-natural juice during the day. There are endless varieties of juices to create using greens, other vegetables, and fruit. Start with an easy juice, like combining carrots and apples, to start. There are also green juices that can be simply made:

– Celery, lemon and pear (or apple)
– Celery, cucumber, lemon (leave the skin on) and pear (or apple)
– Celery, cucumber, kale, lemon and pear (or apple)
– Celery, cucumber, lemon, parsley and pear (or apple)

If you don’t have a juicer, consider adding an all-natural protein smoothie using a blender. They are easy to make with a few simple ingredients:

• 1 cup milk (soy, almond, rice, etc) or orange juice
• Protein powder as desired (soy, brown rice)
• a handful of greens (kale or spinach)
• 1/2 a banana
• 1/2 cup or so of frozen fruit
• ice as desired

Mix and enjoy!

Detox In Your Sleep

Sleeping is one of the all-natural ways that our bodies detox. Head to bed early in order to take advantage of the sleep cycles that help your body repair itself. Getting to sleep early consistently over time will help your body function better and naturally detox.

Get a Health Baseline

There’s no better way to start managing your good health than getting a baseline. If you don’t know where you are when it comes to dental and overall health, how will you know where you want to be and how you want to improve?

Make an appointment with your doctor to get a physical, including blood work, that will allow you both to see where you are when it comes to your health. Your doctor can help you make goals to improve your health, which directly effects your dental health.

Don’t forget to establish a baseline with the dentist! Call dentist in Newberg, Oregon Dr. Jennifer McLeod and her team at (503) 538-7717 to schedule your personal appointment.

Photo Credit: Livin’ Spoonful via Compfight