As the New Year approaches, it's the perfect to set resolutions that will benefit your overall health. While many focus on fitness and diet, it’s equally important to consider the well-being of your eyes and teeth. These often-overlooked aspects of health play a crucial roles in our daily lives. In this blog, we’ll explore practical and effective New Year’s resolutions that can help you maintain and improve your oral and vision health throughout the year.

From simple daily habits to lifestyle changes, these tips will ensure your smile stays bright and your vision clear!

Key Takeaways:

• Creating and sticking to routines can help you maximize and maintain your oral and optical health year-round.
• Cut out bad habits that could be hindering your oral and vision health.
• Eating right, staying hydrated, and adopting healthy habits can significantly benefit your vision and oral health.
• Protect your investment with proper eyewear and mouth protection.
• Stay on top of your oral health and vision health with regular checkups.

Out With the Old

Turn over a new leaf this new year by letting go of these bad habits.

• Avoid Smoking: Consider quitting as part of your resolution. Smoking doesn't only damage your lungs, but it also has harmful effects on your oral health. It leads to an accumulation of plaque and tartar on teeth, may cause dry mouth, gum disease, gingivitis, and even oral cancer.
• Limit Alcohol: Enjoying alcohol occasionally is fine, but excessive drinking can harm your oral health and vision. Excessive alcohol can impact oral health, cause vision issues, and encourage poor diet. Moderation is crucial for wellbeing. So, moderation is key for healthy living.
• Limit Sugary Foods: Cut down on sugary snacks and drinks to protect your teeth from the harmful effects of decay and cavities. This practice not only aids in maintaining a healthy smile, but also significantly reduces the risk of developing serious oral diseases.

And In With the New

• Routine: Starting and ending your day with a routine is a great way to help you establish healthy habits consistently. A good morning routine sets the tone for the day, and a thorough night routine sets you up for a good sleep and fresh start to your next morning! Start and end your day with a thorough brushing and flossing session. For your eyes, make sure to wash your face and gently clean your eyelids; be sure to remove any makeup and apply a warm compress to relax them.
• Healthy Habits: Ensure you’re eating a balanced diet with plenty of foods rich in vitamins A and C, which are great for eye health, and calcium-rich foods for strong teeth. Drink plenty of water throughout the day to keep your body, including your eyes and mouth, hydrated. A great way to prevent dry eyes this winter is to get a humidifier.
• Screen Breaks and Blue Light: Follow the 20-20-20 rule for eye health: every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break and look at something 20 feet away. Also, use of blue light filters on your devices or blue light glasses are a good way to reduce eye strain, especially if you spend a lot of time on screens. Maybe try incorporating simple eye exercises into your routine as well to keep them strong
• Protective Eyewear: Daily UV exposure not only affects our skin but also increases the risk of cataracts. Protect your eyes from the damage caused by UV exposure. Look for sunglasses labelled as 100% protective against both UVA and UVB or UV 400 to lower your risk. If you play sports or are involved in any activities that require or recommend eyewear, always wear the appropriate mouthguards and eye protection.
• Regular Check-ups: Last, but certainly not least, schedule and stick to regular appointments with your dentist and eye doctor. Early detection can prevent bigger issues.

These tips can help keep your eyes and teeth healthy all year long!