Deck the Halls with Great Dental Care!
Guess who loves eating holiday treats and goodies as much and you do? Friends? Yep. Family? Of course. Kids? Duh! But they aren’t the only ones. The bacteria in your mouth is loving it! Thankfully, you can take a few steps during the holiday meals, get-togethers and parties to maximize the protection and health of your teeth.
- Eat sweets WITH your meal rather than after. The excess saliva will help wash down the sugars so that it doesn’t linger on your teeth.
- Drink plenty of water. Drinking water cleans the mouth and produces saliva that helps deposit essential minerals for tooth enamel. Water helps wash away food particles from the teeth.
- Keep to a clean diet during the holiday season as much as possible, given that you’ll most likely be surrounded by delicious tempting treats. Vegetables such as carrots, cauliflower, broccoli and cucumbers can help clean your teeth and gums by removing food particles that can build up into plaque. Fruits such as apples, strawberries and kiwis scrub your teeth when you eat them. Natural fibers of the fruits combined with your saliva can help wash away food particles and stain-causing bacteria.
Eating sweets during the holidays is almost inevitable. They are everywhere!! And sometimes too good to pass up. Here’s a list of particularly naughty treats to be careful with:
- Candy canes (more like candy crush!)
- Peppermint bark (if your teeth are fragile, dipping small pieces in milk should help soften them up)
- Caramels, taffy and peanut brittle (the sticker the treat, the more damage that can happen)
- Wine (can cause discoloration)
- Popcorn (sneaky kernels will find their way into hard to reach areas of your mouth)
Following these small tips can keep you and your mouth in great shape through the holiday season. A helpful tip to remember is, if it’s good for your body, it’s good for your mouth!
Happy Holidays from your dental team and Smile Sarasota!
