No one wants to suffer a dental disaster during December. This is the season for fun and festive celebrations, after all! Read on for some silly season dental care dos and don’ts to avoid damaging your teeth over the holidays.
During the holidays, your oral hygiene is more important than usual. We tend to enjoy an influx of sugary treats, snacks, and more soda or alcohol than we usually imbibe. While tasty and delicious, holiday food is, unfortunately, not great for your oral health…
Try To Stay Away From Sugar
Having a holiday season filled with sweet treats can harm your oral health. Sugar can lead to cavities, tooth decay, and gum disease. If you want to avoid dental problems this season, here are some tips to keep your smile sparkling:
The best way to avoid a cavity is to limit the amount of sugar you consume. If you plan on eating a lot of sweets this holiday season, make sure to brush and floss regularly to remove any leftover sugar.
The other way to reduce the amount of sugar in your mouth is to avoid eating sugary snacks during the day. Having a healthy snack between meals can help you avoid the temptation of grazing on sugary treats.
It’s important to drink plenty of water after eating. Water helps increase the production of saliva, which helps eliminate food particles and acids in your mouth. Saliva also helps reduce the amount of sugar your teeth are exposed to. If you have sensitive teeth, you should limit the number of sugary foods you eat. If you do eat sugary foods, try eating them with other foods to minimise damage to your teeth.
Avoid Acidic Drinks
Taking care of your oral hygiene and teeth over the holiday season can be a challenge. Soda, alcohol, and even fruit juice are all high in acids, which can harm the protective enamel coating of your teeth. However, there are some ways you can protect your teeth and avoid enamel erosion.
Firstly, you should make sure you drink plenty of water. Water neutralises acid and helps wash away harmful bacteria. It also helps neutralise the acidic effects of alcoholic drinks and acidic foods.
It’s also a good idea to drink through a straw. The straw prevents contact with your teeth and minimises the amount of acid that comes into contact with your teeth.
Another good way to prevent enamel erosion is to chew sugar-free gum. It’s also a good idea to brush your teeth after drinking acidic beverages. It can also be useful to use fluoride mouthwash. This can help reduce tooth wear and it can also help you avoid an emergency trip to the dentist.
Take Care of Your Teeth!
Brushing your teeth twice a day will remove particles that can damage your teeth. Drinking water regularly will also help rinse away acids from your mouth. You can also rinse your mouth with water after meals to remove food particles.
Flossing after every meal over the festive period is a good idea. This is because leftovers tend to get stuck between teeth and can cause cavities in the process. Brushing and flossing are the only ways to make sure your teeth stay clean after the turkey and stuffing have departed the dinner table.
Additionally, be sure to remind any youngsters in the household to maintain their dental care routines to avoid facing the new year with a toothache and a need for fillings!
Drink Some Water!
Keeping your mouth and body hydrated during the holidays is very important. Water helps your body flush out toxins, which can affect your oral health. It also helps your mouth maintain a healthy pH. This will help prevent tooth decay and gum disease.
How Can We Help?
To ensure that you are heading into the holiday season with your teeth in tip-top shape, give us a call for a quick check-up and cleaning! Be sure to schedule your first appointment for the new year as soon as possible—don’t forget that we should see you at least twice a year for check-ups. Get that first one out of the way in January!
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To schedule an appointment, please call (07) 3801 8799 or drop us a line here.