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The Christmas festivities have come to an end, and it’s time to turn our attention to the fresh start of a brand new year. General dentist in Newberg, OR Dr. Jennifer McLeod and her team at Newberg Family Dental offer these tips to help clean out the cobwebs from last year and prepare your smile for 2014!

Store Christmas Decorations

Now that the tree is coming down, commit to putting everything away in one fell swoop. Most retail outlets are having sales right now on totes of various sizes and colors. Invest money in a few (or more if needed) durable totes and organize your Christmas decorations for next year. Getting all of the mess cleaned up now will feel great as you welcome 2014.

Clean Up Clutter

If 2013 was a busy year for you like it was for us at Newberg Family Dental, then you probably have piles and stacks of papers around the house. Take a couple of hours to sort through paperwork, filing it and shredding it as necessary. Gather important documents for tax purposes – the April 15th deadline will be here before you know it!

Redo The Budget

With the current year coming to an end, this is an excellent time to evaluate spending, saving and investing habits. Go through your personal budget from the last twelve months and figure out where you and your family did well and in which categories you might need to improve. If you don’t currently have a budget, consider setting one up for the new year. A simple excel spreadsheet works well on the computer, or try out one of the reliable software programs on the market.

Makeover Your Diet

While you’re in evaluation mode, this would be a good time to think about overall health and wellness. It might feel cliche to resolve to eat better for the coming year, but a serious review of what and when you eat and drink can make a big difference.

It’s time to throw out the Christmas treats and make room for whole, nutritious foods that benefit your dental health. Incorporate bright, colorful and crunchy vegetables and fruits into each meal to help naturally clean teeth. Avoid dark drinks like coffee, tea and red wine to keep teeth looking brighter, and drink a lot of water throughout the day to both rinse your mouth and keep your body working well.

Make Important Appointments

Since you’re taking the time to evaluate areas like overall health and personal finances, it might be time to make important appointments to receive help. Contact your investment specialist or, if you don’t have one, get a referral from someone you trust. Then you can sit down with that person to figure out where you are financially and where you want to be as you get closer to retirement.

If it’s been awhile since you’ve had a physical, it might be time to make an appointment with your doctor. Don’t forget to include your dental health in these plans. Call Newberg Family Dental, a dental practice Newberg, OR, at (503) 538-7717 for your personal appointment for the new year!

Photo Credit: Chiot’s Run via Compfight

Posted in Smile-Blog and tagged Christmas, Clean, dental equipment, Dental Offers, dentist, family dental, General Dentists, Jennifer McLeod, Newberg, Newberg Family Dental


