Keep Your Smile Bright This Season
It’s that magical time of the year again! The Christmas lights are being hung, families are planning their travels, the seasonal gingerbread and peppermint lattes are back, and Mariah Carey is ready to sing “All I Want for Christmas!” at the top of her lungs. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year. You can still maintain your oral health while hosting parties, indulging in the holiday cheer and festivities, and here’s how…
The holiday season brings an abundance of delicious homemade food, treats, and sweet drinks. Since sugar is the primary food source that causes cavities, being mindful of the amount of sugar you are ingesting is very important. Holiday cookies, candies, chocolates, and toffee are all wonderful, but are full of sugar. Healthier options for your teeth would be dark chocolate, which washes away off your teeth easier than milk chocolate does. Healthier options for appetizers are cheese and crackers, carrots, celery, and apples which are all natural toothbrushes! Turkey and sweet potatoes are not just a healthier options while dining with friends and family, but are foods that are good for your teeth. These foods are rich in calcium, minerals and vitamins that strengthen and protect the enamel.
Staying hydrated is extremely important for overall health. Hot cocoa, juice, and eggnog are also all loaded with sugar and can be very harmful to your teeth. We typically sip on and enjoy beverages like this over a course of time, which exposes your teeth to a constant acid attack. Acid demineralizes the tooth enamel, which leads to sensitivity, decay, cavities, and ultimately, tooth loss. To avoid this, try to enjoy these drinks relatively quickly and be sure to drink water to rinse the sugar and acid off your teeth. Drinking water regularly throughout the day helps keep your mouth from being dry, enabling saliva production to naturally rinse your mouth and teeth of bacteria.
Travel is a big part of the holidays, but does not need to be the reason to avoid maintaining your oral health or skipping your regular cleaning at your dentist. Brush twice a day for two full minutes each time and floss once daily. Using an electric toothbrush is best. Flossing is extremely important because it is the only way to remove the food particles stuck between teeth. Avoid chewing ice, as it can easily crack a tooth. Do not use your teeth as tools to open boxes, wrappers, or bottles, please use your scissors! It is not worth breaking a tooth over opening a Barbie box.
Enjoy this holiday season and every little moment that comes with it. Make sure to treat your teeth like you treat your most favorite delicate ornament…with care!
