Let’s face it: You’re a busy person, and oral health is probably not the first thing on your mind as you race from one appointment to the next each day. At the same time, the last thing you need in your busy schedule is time out for a major dental procedure.

While you’re making your New Year’s Resolutions, we thought we’d offer up four easy ways to keep your teeth healthy. Hopefully these will keep you out of a dentist’s chair for too long.

1. Drink water or chew gum after each meal. Most of us aren’t in a position to be able to brush after we eat, at least not during lunch. Rising your mouth or chewing sugarless gum is an easy way to clear your mouth of food bits and bacteria.
2. Use fluoride. Fluoride strengthens enamel and inhibits tooth decay, and conveniently, it’s already in most tap water (so you can knock out points 1 and 2 in one fell swoop). If your tap water isn’t fluoridated, talk to your dentist about using a fluoride application.
3. Schedule an appointment with your dentist. We know, we know – you’re busy. But think of it like this: That half-hour trip to the dentist every six months could save you weeks and months of costly procedures in the long run.
4. Opt for less sugary snacks. The bacteria that occur naturally in your mouth feed on sugars and convert them to acid, which can eat away at your teeth and cause cavities. Instead of grabbing a pastry from the coffee shop on your way into work, go for a cup of oatmeal or yogurt.