With the holidays behind us and the new year approaching, many of us have put away the Christmas list and have begun a new one… New Year’s Resolutions. According to USA.gov, the most popular New Year’s Resolutions in America are:

• Drink Less Alcohol
• Eat Healthy Food
• Get a Better Education
• Get a Better Job
• Get Fit
• Lose Weight
• Manage Debt
• Manage Stress
• Quit Smoking
• Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
• Save Money
• Take a Trip
• Volunteer to Help Others

I have to say that these are all excellent resolutions worthy of adoption!  What peeks my interest as a dental professional, is how many of these resolutions if adopted would pose great benefits to one’s oral health as well.

Drink Less Alcohol

According to the Journal of the American Dental Association, “People with alcohol abuse problems have a higher incidence of periodontal disease, caries and potentially precancerous oral lesions, said researchers March 12 at the American Association for Dental Research meeting.”

Quit Smoking

In addition to the harm that smoking can cause in one’s lungs and overall health, smoking can also lead to gum disease, tooth loss, stained teeth and even mouth cancer.

Eat Healthy Food

The food you eat nourishes your body, which includes your teeth and your gums. Eating a diet rich in calcium, fruits and vegetables will help to improve the health of your mouth as well.  In August we published a blog with a small list of Foods to Avoid for Healthy Teeth. You can find that by clicking on this link.

Other New Year’s Resolutions

Some other great new year’s resolutions to adopt for your oral health in 2013 could be:

• Floss once a day.
• Consider investing in an electric Sonicare toothbrush for a more thorough clean.
• Schedule your dental cleaning and exam every 6 months.
• Have an oral cancer screening done.

With all of that said… We wish you a very, very Happy New Year!  Here’s to 2013 and all of the new joys and adventures it holds.