January arrives, and with it comes the usual flood of resolutions: eat cleaner, work out more, drink less, reinvent your entire existence, etc.
But as dentists, we know a universal truth:
Most people make big resolutions… and their mouths stay exactly the same.
So instead of another unrealistic “new year, new me,” let’s talk about a realistic, dentist-approved approach to oral health resolutions—ones patients can actually keep and ones you can actually encourage without rolling your eyes.
1. Forget Complicated Goals, Keep It Simple
Patients love to announce things like:
- “I’m flossing twice a day starting January 1!”
- “I’m cutting out sugar completely!”
- “I’m going to brush for three minutes from now on!”
And by mid-January? Back to the old routine. The more complicated the resolution, the faster it collapses.
Help patients focus on one simple, doable change instead, such as:
- Flossing three times a week (not daily—yet).
- Switching to an electric toothbrush.
- Drinking more water instead of grazing all day.
Real change starts small.
2. The Power of the 30-Second Upgrade
Patients don’t need to overhaul everything—they just need to make tiny improvements. Examples you can suggest:
- Add 30 extra seconds to their brushing.
- Rinse with water after coffee or wine.
- Keep floss picks in the car or purse.
These don’t feel intimidating, and that’s why they stick.
3. Give Them “Try This Instead” Resolutions
Patients respond well to alternatives rather than restrictions.
Instead of: “Stop chewing ice.”
Try: “Keep a reusable water bottle with cold water so you’re less tempted to chew it.”
Instead of: “No more snacking!”
Try: “If you snack, pair it with water and avoid sticking to the ‘all-day grazing’ habit.”
Behavioral swaps lead to better habits, and fewer lectures.
4. Remind Them That Prevention Is the Easiest Resolution
A realistic resolution? “Stay consistent with your 6-month checkups.” It’s the simplest, least demanding, highest-impact thing a patient can do.
Plus: Patients who keep their hygiene visits tend to make healthier choices the rest of the year.
5. Address the “January Motivation Trap.”
January is full of motivation. February isn’t. Let patients know:
- Slipping doesn’t mean failing.
- Resolutions don’t have to start on the 1st.
- The goal is consistency, not perfection.
When people stop thinking of dental habits as “all or nothing,” they stick with them longer.
6. Encourage a Mindset Shift: Not Perfection, Maintenance
Most people expect results quickly. But dental change happens quietly, gradually, and with habits that feel unbelievably boring.
Tell patients: “Healthy mouths aren’t built by heroic effort—they’re built by maintenance.”
That message resonates far more than “floss every day or else.”
7. Remind Them: Same Mouth, Better Care
It’s not about reinventing anything. It’s about taking a mouth they’ve had for decades and giving it just a little more attention this year. Whether that means:
- Upgrading tools
- Adding one new habit
- Keeping scheduled appointments
- Or simply flushing the guilt and starting fresh
Small, steady steps beat dramatic promises every time.
The Takeaway
Resolutions don’t have to be extreme to be effective. A new year doesn’t require a new mouth, just a more consistent, more mindful approach to the one they’ve already got.
New year, same mouth… but better habits. That’s a resolution anyone can stick to.
