A Toothy Top Ten: Our New Year's resolutions for your dental health

1. Quit smoking

Around 90% of those who develop cancer of the mouth, tongue, lips, and throat use cigarettes at some point in their life. Becoming smoke-free not only improves your oral hygiene, but could save your life too. For the benefit of your teeth, mouth and overall health, there couldn’t be a better New Year’s resolution than ditching a dirty habit.

2. Cut down on sugar

As you probably know, eating too much sugar can have a disastrous effect on your teeth. You'll never see a dentist eating food with too much sugar. Your chances of getting tooth decay shoot up with a diet high in sugary foods, so commit to cutting out as much as you can in 2021. Trust us - you’ll feel better for it in the long-run!

3. Stick to your brushing routine

Startlingly, one in four UK adults do not brush their teeth twice a day. That’s a lot of bad breath! If you’re not brushing twice a day, every day, your teeth will start to yellow and tooth decay will become more likely. For this resolution, we suggest making a calendar and ticking off every day you’ve brushed your teeth.

4. Take up regular flossing

If it isn’t already, flossing needs to be part of your daily oral routine. Flossing out all of those leftover pieces of food in between your teeth can give your oral health a huge boost. Commit to flossing at least once a day in your resolution list and you’ll notice a difference very quickly.

5. Find a brighter smile

From red wine to coffee here’s a whole host of food and drink that can contribute to teeth staining. Cut down on all those yellowing drinks and take up some whitening toothpaste recommended by your dentist. If you want to go one step further, teeth whitening treatment can be the perfect way to find your true smile.

6. Visit the dentist

Paying your dentist a visit every few months is the least you can do to keep your teeth nice and healthy. Commit to seeing your dentist every two months for the whole year and you’ll start reaping the benefits. We’d recommend booking your appointments well in advance so you’ll be more likely to stick to them.

7. Restorative dental work

The New Year is the perfect time to start some restorative dental work. If you’re looking to preserve your teeth in the long-term, restorative dental treatments such as implants, crowns or fillings can give your entire mouth a boost. Been putting it off? Making this a New Year’s resolution will help you get over the line.

8. Sort out your bruxism

Stress and anxiety are two of the most common causes of mouth grinding. Putting the issue on the backburner can have disastrous long-term effects on your teeth. Committing to sort the issue out in New Year with a nightly mouthguard or regular meditation can sort the problem out.

9. Sober January

Giving your mouth a month break from regular alcohol intake can be truly restorative for your teeth. After a boozy Christmas period, making one of your New Year’s resolutions a commitment to stop drinking shouldn’t be too difficult. Your reward will be a bright, sparkling smile.

10. Plan out your diet

Planning ahead should always be a priority when writing down your resolutions. If you run in headfirst at the beginning of the year, you’re much more likely to fail. Plan out your diet with a variety of healthy vegetable recipes and give yourself a small but sweet weekly reward to keep you on track.

The opportunity for a fresh start doesn’t come around too often. Sticking by some of these toothy resolutions can have a huge impact on your oral health. The key to succeeding is simple - stay motivated, stay committed and keep reminding yourself of those tremendous toothy benefits.