The holiday season brings greetings and time with family, but do you know what else it brings? Yummy sweets like cookies, candies, pie, and much more. It’s okay to indulge in some of your favorite treats during this year’s festivities, but there are some steps you can take to keep your teeth healthy. Read on to discover some tips on how to maintain good oral health for the holidays from your local dentist.
Stick to a Routine
If you have a good oral health routine, it’s okay to indulge in desserts every now and then. Be sure to brush your teeth twice a day, for two minutes each session to properly clean your smile. Additionally, use fluoridated toothpaste for extra protection against cavities. Fluoride is a natural mineral that helps strengthen your tooth enamel.
You should also floss once a day to clean out any food debris or plaque that gets stuck in between your teeth. If you think about it, each tooth has 5 sides: front, back, top, right side, and left side. If you don’t floss, you’re leaving 2 sides of each tooth exposed to plaque and bacteria that can cause decay.
Carrots over Candy
Even with sugar plums dancing in your head, you should still take a break from candy when you can. Try some raw veggies or fruits to switch it up and keep your teeth healthy. Some experts even tout carrots as a natural toothbrush because it has properties that clean and wash away debris.
Drink Water
Most tap water is fluoridated, so that can be an easy way to give your smile some extra protection this holiday season. Water also naturally washes away food debris, plaque, and acids that live in your mouth, so try to reach for some water instead of hot chocolate on occasion.
Be Gentle to Your Smile
Leave the nut cracking to the experts! Don’t use your teeth to crack nuts, open bottles, or to chew extra-hard candy. Using your teeth as tools can often lead to serious damage and dental emergencies. If you’re going to indulge in some nuts, you should crack them beforehand to avoid an emergency trip to the dentist’s office.
See Your Dentist
When all the holiday chaos has settled down, be sure to get in to see your local dentist for a routine checkup and cleaning. They will check your teeth and gums for any issues after the season of sugar to make sure your oral health is in tip-top shape. If you don’t have a regular dentist, a quick Google search for ‘dentist near me’ is a great start for finding a new dental practice.
Now that you know how to keep your teeth healthy this holiday season, you can enjoy your favorites and smile with the confidence of knowing you’re maintaining good oral health.
About the Practice
At Darby Creek Dental, we have a team of 3 highly-trained dentists who enjoy providing quality care to their patients in Marysville. They like preventing dental issues rather than treating them, which is why they give tips on staying healthy for the holidays. For any questions, they can be contacted through their website or by phone at (937) 644-8822.