10 Ways to Keep Your Teeth Healthy During the Holidays
Posted on December 12th, 2022 | Dr. Kerry Lowery
During the holidays, it’s never hard to find a plate of cookies, candied treats, or any variety of rich, festive foods within reach. While five course meals, wine, and elaborate, sugary desserts are part of the fun, they can do a number on your teeth. Fortunately, there are many ways to protect your smile over the holiday season and still enjoy your favorite foods.
Continue reading for a few holiday dental tips from Beyond Smiles of Park Ridge!
How to Protect Your Teeth This Holiday Season
Celebrating the holiday season often means indulging in your favorite foods, from fruitcakes and gingerbread, to sweet holiday wines. However, if you are one of the many people who try to take care of their dental health by avoiding the worst foods and drinks for your teeth, we suggest referencing the following tips to help protect your smile this December.
10 Tips to Protect Your Teeth During the Holidays
- Eat less candy, and if you are craving sweets, opt for chocolate or sugar-free mints over candy canes and toffee. Chocolate won’t stick to your teeth like other candies might, and sugar-free mints are relatively harmless.
- Choose red wine over white- Yes, really! Even though red wine is known for staining teeth, reds are also much less acidic than white wines, so in reality, your teeth and gums will be better off. Additionally, sip water between glasses to reduce staining. If you opt for white, be aware that the acidity can erode tooth enamel, and drinking water will help reduce the acid levels in your mouth.
- Floss your teeth and keep it with you at all times. Having chocolate cake or gingerbread stuck between your molars is a great way to get a cavity right before New Year’s Eve.
- Be aware of holiday snacks that are bad for your teeth and try to avoid them when possible, such as popcorn, sweet drinks like hot chocolate, candy, dried fruits, soda, and seltzer.
- Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Not only will it help wash away sugar and bacteria left behind by food, winter weather is dry and saliva production is important for preventing cavities.
- Don’t skip brushing your teeth! Sometimes the holidays tire us out, but it’s important to never skip a step in your daily dental care routine, especially when you’re consuming more sweets than you normally would. Brushing after meals can also help prevent cavities and gum disease by reducing the amount of bacteria that sits on your teeth.
- Eat veggies when you notice a veggie tray hiding amongst all the other appetizers- Believe it or not, cucumbers and cherry tomatoes can taste quite refreshing after indulging in so many sugary foods.
- Visit your dentist for a check-up after the holidays are over. A professional teeth cleaning will always help protect your smile long-term.
- Chew sugar-free gum if you want to avoid snacking before dinner. This will help increase saliva production, keep your breath fresh, and reduce the amount of sweets you consume.
- Don’t use your teeth to open packages or anything that isn’t edible. A lot of us tend to forget that our teeth might be tough and sharp, but they aren’t designed to open up gifts from under the tree, and an emergency dental appointment isn’t very festive.
Call Us to Schedule Your Next Dental Appointment
After the holiday season is over you can contact the team at Beyond Smiles of Park Ridge to schedule a check-up and start the new year off right. Even if you have indulged over the holidays, there’s no reason your oral health should suffer.
Contact us today to schedule your next dental appointment!
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