By Dr Andre Clarke CONGRATULATIONS, we have made it to 2012. The things of 2011 are of the past and the things of 2012 are yet to come. It is the custom of many persons to make New Year's resolutions. These resolutions are to ensure a course of action for this new period of the Gregorian calendar. It is thought that the tradition of making New Year's resolutions began many years before the singing of the very popular "Auld Lang Syne". When Robert Burns wrote the words of "Auld Lang Syne" in the form of a poem in 1788, people the world over were already making New Year's resolutions and breaking them. It is believed that the Babylonians were the first to make New Year's resolutions, and presumably the first to break them. Are we doomed to break our New Year's resolutions? We often spend the first day of the New Year reflecting on our past mistakes and resolving to improve ourselves during the remainder of the year. It is reported the early Christians did it (after the Babylonians), and we are still doing it. We just have to figure a way to follow through with the good intentions. Let us vow to make this year of 2012 different from all of the others; not only will we keep our resolutions, but we will add healthy things to the resolution list. We should all affirm the following: I have decided that improving my mouth health is going to be one of my New Year's resolution and I am going to stick to it. I implore you to stick to the dental resolution that you just made. It will help keep your smile alive and help with overall physical wellness. Good dental health and good overall health go hand in hand. In order to make the resolution agreed upon in the previous paragraph work, it is important to set small reasonable goals and do simple things that are not intimidating. The simple things are what will ensure that this resolution makes it into the second week of January. Here are some tips to help with your New Year's resolution, so that it becomes something that you can smile about. 1. Always brush your teeth at least two times in a day with a soft to medium toothbrush. Brushing your teeth often will remove unwanted particles from the surface before it can create a problem. 2. Remember to use fluoride toothpaste when brushing. Fluoride helps in many ways, but one of the most important is that it helps to harden the teeth. When a tooth is harder, it helps to prevent decay (tooth going bad). 3. Always change your toothbrush when the bristles are bent and have lost their form. The bristles usually become warped after at least three months and may do so even before. 4. Floss your teeth daily. The tooth brush is too big to get between the teeth, so this is the job of the floss. Toothpicks are not good substitutes for floss. 5. Rinse you mouth out daily with a mouth rinse. An antibacterial mouth rinse with fluoride may be best. 6. Snack on healthy foods. Good nutrition is an important part of maintaining a good dental health. 7. Please visit your dentist for a regular check up. A routine dental cleaning and examination will ensure that your teeth and gums stay healthy. I wish you all the best for the remainder of 2012. It will be a good year for all of us. It will be a great year for our smiles. Let us keep our smiles alive. Have a prosperous and happy New Year. This article is for informational purposes only. It is not intended and may not be treated as, a substitute for professional medical/dental advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a physician or dental professional with any questions you may have regarding a medical/dental condition. Never disregard professional medical/dental advice or delay in seeking it because of a purely informational publication. If you have questions, please send email to dr_andreclarke@hotmail.com.