It seems like it was just January 1, 2024, only a few months ago. Time does go by quickly.
We all age a little bit and, along the way with aging, maybe learn a little. I believe that one of the keys to living well and enjoying life is staying engaged.
What do I mean by that?
We all need to be involved with someone or something. We need to have excitement and passion in our lives. That excitement and passion can be for another person. That excitement and passion can be for an activity. That excitement or passion can be for ourselves.
We all have something that we excel in or are proud of.
Yes, you may not feel that it is much of anything, but others around you may marvel at you or admire you. They may say, “I wish I could be like Betty.” This is our springboard for staying engaged. This is our inner energy for working and bettering ourselves.
We all have some qualities or attributes that make us feel good. Use that quality to drive the engine. We do this well. Let me strive to do this thing, that I am not so good at, a little better.
You may say, “A little improvement is really meaningless! I need a major change.”
I will counter by telling you that merely go and study how an infant goes from no movement to a young child that you can’t catch.
First, they learn to turn over. This is followed by hand and foot mobility. Slow walking appears, followed by running and catching up afterward. When that infant turned over, the body wasn’t ready to run. That little person just focused on one little activity. Only when that activity became second nature did the next one appear on the horizon.
Let’s Focus on Our Dental Health in 2025
I want to focus today on getting every one of you focused on health.
It’s easy. We all want to feel good. No one likes aches and pains. To get to that point requires focus, engagement, and perseverance. It also needs minimal behavioral changes or adoptions to help us reach our goal.
Tiny Changes For Remarkable Results
When it comes to New Years resolutions, many of us start with great resolutions but fall off the wagon within a week or two.
This concept is shown to be true by study after study for many years. This thought was echoed in the book “Atomic Habits” by James Clear.
He advocates not setting goals. Goals are very lofty and, often, cannot be attained. This approach is a formula for failure. If we don’t reach our goal, then we give up.
It is better to “focus on becoming 1% better every day.”
Once we create habits and these become routine, we find that we are inching our way to that goal.
The idea, though, is not to focus on the target. Focus on the small steps that turn into routines for us.
Let’s pick some straightforward, attainable, and repeatable activities to create the smallest changes in our life.
So, I will give you five tips for a healthier tooth year. The first two deal with making sure that your teeth last your entire life. If you have lost teeth in the past, then let’s focus on keeping the ones that we have.
5 Small Changes For Improved Dental Health in 2025
1. Get a new toothbrush.
As easy as it sounds, this is a big one. We all tend to hold onto things past their time. In the case of your toothbrush, you are doing yourself a great disservice.
This is your first line of defense against dental disease. Bacteria in the mouth that cause cavities or gum disease need something to feed on. They eat the leftover food in your mouth. If you brush this away, you starve the bacteria causing trouble in your mouth.
2. Get a flossing aid and floss only one tooth.
Why only one tooth? Flossing is a challenge for many of my patients. It isn’t easy to do and takes too long. Let’s take some of our inner energy and do some problem-solving. There are many gadgets available that make flossing easier to do. Find one and just start with one tooth. Within a very short time, you will see how easy it has become and start to floss more teeth. You will get better at it and faster. Before you know, flossing will become part of you.
3. Whiten your teeth.
We all love white teeth. We associate whiter and brighter teeth with health and youth. Whiter teeth also make us feel better about ourselves. This little decision can be the springboard
to brushing better and even thinking twice before we eat that whole bag of chocolate candies as we now love our teeth and how they look.
4. Bond a single chipped or discolored tooth.
We all have one tooth that is discolored or chipped. More often than not, this is right in front of your mouth. Every time you brush your teeth or comb your hair, your bothersome tooth stands out like a sore thumb. A simple visit to correct the color, fix an edge or close a space can make all the difference in the world for you. I just treated a patient who had dark yellow tooth next to his front tooth. A 30-minute appointment with no shots or discomfort made him happy and pleased with his new smile. All we did was fix one tooth!
5. Make your next six-month cleaning appointment before you leave the office.
So often, we hear, “I don’t know what I am doing in six months.” Well, guess what? If you make an appointment, you will now have something to do in six months. By being vigilant and proactive about yourself, you can help ensure that your mouth and oral health are in the best shape that they can be.
I could list many more suggestions to help improve your dental health in 2025, but I want to keep it short and straightforward. I encourage you to find one that resonates with you and take it on.
My tips are so simple, but they are the first step to awareness of your oral health and creating a beautiful and long-lasting smile. Oh, I forgot to mention a Healthy Smile.
If you want more information or tips to improve your dental health in 2025, call Nikki or Jamie at 440.951.7856, They are eager to help you on your journey.I look forward to hearing from you.
Jeffrey Gross, DDS, FAGD, is a highly qualified and experienced general dentist licensed in Ohio. He is also a respected Case Western Reserve School of Dental Medicine staff member.