New year, New You?
- Lowrie Bell
- Jan 7
- 5 min read
2026: New year, new you?
How many New Year’s resolutions have you made through your life? I’ve made a few, lets call it 20-25 over the years that I’ve been old enough to know what a resolution is and old enough to actually care. I spent a few years saying they were pointless and rubbish.
One resolution I have stood by since the age of 24 was going to the dentist for a check up every 6 months. It came after a disastrous appointment where I needed a filling, my first filling ever.
I’d had extensive dental work as a teenager because I needed braces. It required the removal of four teeth, train tracks for 2 years and retainers after that. I went through infection in my mouth from the tooth removal, blisters in my mouth from the braces rubbing on my gums, pain in my teeth and face when they were tightened and I didn’t smile for a very long-time pre-braces and during the process.
Fast forward 10 years and I’d hardly been back to the place, why would I want to put myself through that again? After my check up, the dentist said I needed a filling. I was a bit devastated, I’d brushed my teeth twice a day every day of my life and flossed regularly, even when I came home after a night out on the Jack Daniels. However, I drank a fair amount of Jack and Coke on a night out, which was frequent. I ate sweets and chocolate a fair amount, because I was “too busy” to eat properly. I’d also gone 8 years without anyone checking my teeth and telling me if what I was doing was right.
I turned up for my appointment, and they cracked on with the filling. Those horrible injections came first, it took a few more than normal because I didn't respond to local anaesthetic very well. I could feel a lot while it was being done, and I was cringing and gripping that chair until my knuckles were white and I was halfway down the dentist chair. Then, when it was over, my face felt weird, so I looked in the mirror to check if I was dribbling and said, “it looks like I’ve had a stroke” followed by “and I’m only blinking with one eye!” I was instructed to sit back down, and they told me that they had injected a different nerve during the extra injections. I had to sit in reception with a patch over my eye until I could blink again. I could not drive until then. Ah great!
Since then, even though I’m really not a fan of going to the dentist, I vowed on New Years Day to go every 6 months for a check up and prevent further issues from happening.
Now, don’t get me wrong, my teeth are not perfect. I still eat sweets and chocolate now and again and I’ve swapped my JD and coke for red wine. However, I drink much less alcohol, I eat much less junk food and I drink more water. I still brush twice a day, everyday, and I floss everyday with correct technique. (Turns out I was doing that wrong!)
On my last visit to Huw the dentist, he said my teeth were brilliant.
What the hell is my point here, I’m sure you’re asking by now?
I made an achievable New Year’s resolution which meant something to me. Something I was keen to maintain (my tooth health and no more filings).
I didn’t go mad, I made one resolution.
I stuck by it.
I made the necessary changes to my life to help the situation. (The dentist can’t prevent me getting cavities if I’m eating loads of sugar and drinking loads of pop, they can only let me know sooner that things are going wrong).
This can also be related to your appointment with the Chiropractor. You come to us in pain. The first few weeks can be pretty difficult and painful and you may not enjoy your visits to begin with. Especially when we are asking you to do things like keep moving and stretching, using ice (heat is nice though, yeah?) and telling you everything is going to be alright, just be patient. You think, “why the hell am I paying for this”?
Then, you start to feel better. “No way am I letting my back get like that again, I’ll come back every couple of months for a loosen up and I’ll be great!”
You may very well feel great for that, HOWEVER……remember how the dentist can’t prevent you from developing cavities if you don’t make changes? It’s the same with a lot of aches and pains. If we don’t move regularly, if we don’t drink enough water, eat better quality food, sleep well, address stress, strengthen our bodies, then we can’t be surprised when our aches and pains return down the line.
Just like my resolution which came from the fear of all my teeth falling out (dramatic, I know) it lead to me making gradual changes in my overall lifestyle. It’s been a while in the making; it didn’t happen overnight.
Coming to the chiropractor regularly may work for you, but you need to set some goals with us. Why do you want to be out of pain? It’s not just to be pain free, it’s the impact that pain has on your everyday life.
Having to take time off work sick is stressful.
Not being able to cook a meal for your family because you can’t stand at the cooker for long is hard.
Not being able to walk your dog as far they would normally go leads to the dog getting difficult. (Missy and George would agree).
Not being able to pick up your grandchildren because you’re worried about your back going is upsetting.
Not being able to run your 5k with your friends every Sunday at ParkRun decreases your social life and fitness.
These are very normal, everyday activities. These are our lives we are talking about here. That’s why we want to be out of pain. That’s what we’re aiming for. This is why we are there for you.
If your New Years Resolution is to finally get those aches and pains sorted out, you can count on us to help you and guide you through it. Short term, or long term. Different goals, need different approaches. You’ll be surprised how you can change along with it.
We’ve been based in Pembrokeshire for over 10 years, having clinics in Haverfordwest and Pembroke Dock making us easily accessible from all over Pembrokeshire and West Wales.
We have strong links with our local community, giving talks, sponsoring local teams, hosting charity days and collaborating with other healthcare practitioners. We go above and beyond for our patients and pride ourselves on being approachable, understanding and really good at what we do.
We are awarded the Patient Partnership Quality Mark by the Royal College of Chiropractors this year for our dedication to improving our patients experience of chiropractic healthcare and being evidence based practitioners.
What are you waiting for? 2026 is now, do what’s best for you!
(Smiles showing teeth)
Lowrie
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