Though we prioritise the health and happiness of our patients as dental professionals, it is crucial that we take a minute to ensure our own wellbeing. Dentistry is a stressful and often challenging occupation, so to provide the best care we need to be at our best.
There are many ways to achieve this, and how you choose to enhance and protect your health will be personal to you. However, the start of a new year is an excellent time to take stock and to make sure you are proactive in ensuring your wellbeing – both physically and mentally.
Physiologically speaking
Diet is key for health year-round, but there are some specific considerations during the colder winter months. Some are the usual culprits, like making sure to get your 5-a-day, avoiding too much sugar etc. For busy professionals, this can be more achievable when you plan ahead – batch cooking and freezing portions can be a lifesaver for when you get home late or the family is suddenly ravenous! Look for convenience wherever you can, with online shopping and deliveries, or even buying frozen fruit and veg.[i] The latter is just as good, if not better than fresh alternatives, plus it reduces food waste and means you always have access to nutritious food.[ii]
It is just as important to stay hydrated. Mental stress can increase the risk of dehydration,[iii] meaning that busy times in the practice should be managed effectively to ensure adequate comfort breaks for professional wellbeing. This is especially relevant given the additional alcohol intake over the festive season – we could all do with resetting the balance there, I’m sure.
Exercise is the third pillar of health, significantly reducing the risk of everything from cardiovascular disease to diabetes, osteoporosis and more.[iv] Physical activity is also instrumental in supporting mental health, with regular exercise found to be an effective treatment for depression, particularly jogging, yoga, and strength training.[v]
Psychological too
In fact, all of the above will support both physical and mental wellbeing. Other tools include spending more time outdoors and among nature, getting more quality sleep, and finding new experiences.[vi] Social interaction can also have a significant influence on mental wellbeing, with just one daily conversation helping to fight the effects of loneliness and isolation.[vii] While applicable year-round, many UK working adults (44%) report negative effects on mental health in winter,[viii] making this interaction even more important at this time of year.
The isolation many clinicians experience in dentistry can often exacerbate mental health challenges, so being aware and staying on top of them is key to our wellbeing. We have all read the studies on stress and burnout among UK dentists – by taking control of our own mental health from the start of the year, we give ourselves the best chance of protecting our wellbeing for the months to come.
Author: Michael Sultan, EndoCare
[i] 7 top tips for healthy eating this winter. British Heart Foundation. July 2014. https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/nutrition/healthy-eating-winter-tips [Accessed November 2025]
[ii] Dudley, L.M. & Saluja, Supreet & Stevenson, R.J. & Francis, H.M. & Case, Trevor. (2025). As good as fresh nutritionally but not perceived that way: Implicit and explicit biases towards canned and frozen fruits and vegetables. Food Quality and Preference. 129. 105517. 10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105517.
[iii] Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Military Nutrition Research; Marriott BM, Carlson SJ, editors. Nutritional Needs In Cold And In High-Altitude Environments: Applications for Military Personnel in Field Operations. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 1996. 9, Influence of Cold Stress on Human Fluid Balance. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK232870/
[iv] Warburton DE, Nicol CW, Bredin SS. Health benefits of physical activity: the evidence. CMAJ. 2006 Mar 14;174(6):801-9. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.051351. PMID: 16534088; PMCID: PMC1402378.
[v] Noetel M, Sanders T, Gallardo-Gómez D, Taylor P, del Pozo Cruz B, van den Hoek D et al. Effect of exercise for depression: systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials BMJ 2024; 384 :e075847 doi:10.1136/bmj-2023-075847
[vi] Our best mental health tips – backed by research. Mental Health Foundation. https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/publications/our-best-mental-health-tips [Accessed November 2025]
[vii] Hall, J. A., Holmstrom, A. J., Pennington, N., Perrault, E. K., & Totzkay, D. (2023). Quality Conversation Can Increase Daily Well-Being. Communication Research, 52(3), 291-315. https://doi.org/10.1177/00936502221139363 (Original work published 2025)
[viii] Staff wellbeing – Beat the January Blues. Humber and North Yorkshire. https://humberandnorthyorkshire.org.uk/staff-wellbeing-beat-the-january-blues/ [Accessed November 2025]
