By Jacqui Elsden

As we move into 2022, I am interested to know how many of you will have fallen foul of any New Year's resolutions which were made with much enthusiasm on 31 December?

I have made a resolution this year to be more organised! I am nearly always late for things because I pack too much into each and every day … I just love to be busy! Maybe I should make a resolution to change my resolution!

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This led me to thinking about the most popular New Year's resolutions that are made each year, these being giving up or cutting down on smoking and alcohol consumption and losing weight. It's easy to say but difficult to 'stick with it' and your patients may be thinking about these top three resolutions for themselves.

It was widely commented upon during the 'lockdowns' that we had consumed more alcohol and cigarettes than in previous years together with chocolate, crisps and comfort food … oh and toilet rolls!

Two years on and we are still living with the impact of coronavirus and the impending damage to our health, including our oral health. As dental professionals we are very aware of the damage that alcohol, tobacco, and sugar plays with regards to poor oral health and the increased prevalence of oral cancers. Yet how many of us have returned home from work lately and opened a bottle of wine or beer?

Dry January is the UK's one-month challenge. It's not about giving anything up. It's about getting something back, your fun, your energy and your calm: https://alcoholchange.org.uk/get-involved/campaigns/dry-january.

'Pandemic habits ingrained for 2.7m high-risk drinkers'was the statement from Alcohol Education Charity Drinkaware (https://bit.ly/33OusHS) following a survey carried out between 11 June and 4 July 2021. The survey was carried out online and data had been weighted to be representative of the UK adult (18-85) population according to age, gender, social grade and region. The report further commented that 'while all UK drinkers were more likely to have returned to their regular drinking patterns, 13% (the equivalent of 5.7 million) still drank more in May 2021 than before the pandemic, compared to 21% (9.2 million) during the first lockdown'.

Reducing alcohol consumption is something that we often discuss with our patients, however perhaps this is something that has crossed your mind lately, for yourself?

Our working lives and our personal lives have been enormously difficult since the beginning of the first lockdown and it has been very easy to slip into new habits that can later contribute to multiple health problems. Consider the Dry January challenge [Ed's note: Or another month?] and get your fun back, your energy back and your calm back, so that you can encourage your patients to do the same.

BADN members have access to a health and wellbeing hub as part of membership where you will find a confidential helpline together with lots of inspiring ways to keep well.

To find more about the benefits of BADN membership, and to join, please go to www.badn.org.uk.