Between the candy jar at work, the seasonal treats on sale at the store, and the classic holiday foods served at family gatherings, this time of year isn’t exactly great for your oral health. Unless you want to spend most of January with your dentist in Gorham getting your cavities filled, you should take a few precautions to keep your teeth and gums healthy during the holiday season. By following these five tips, you can enjoy the most wonderful time of the year without harming your smile!
1. Take It Easy on the Candy Canes
As a holiday staple, it’s almost impossible to completely avoid candy canes. However, you should try to eat them sparingly. These treats can all too easily break a tooth if you bite down on them wrong. Sucking on them isn’t much better, as you’re bathing your teeth in sugar for an extended period of time, which gives cavity-causing bacteria in your mouth ample time to wreak havoc.
2. Use a Straw
Many holiday gatherings wouldn’t be complete without beverages like eggnog, soda, or wine. Unfortunately, eggnog is loaded with sugar, soda’s acidity can wear down your tooth enamel, and wine can stain your teeth (especially red wine). If you’re going to consume these beverages, try to sip them through a straw; this minimizes the liquid’s direct contact with your teeth.
3. Chew Sugar-Free Gum
If you can’t brush your teeth after eating, then you can clean your teeth to some extent by popping a piece of sugarless chewing gum in your mouth. The act of chewing helps your mouth produce saliva, which rinses lingering food debris off of your teeth.
4. Bring Your Oral Care Products with You
Even if you’re only going out of town for one night, don’t forget to bring your toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss. You can find convenient travel-sized dental kits at many stores, and they should barely take up any space in your bag.
5. Don’t Use Your Teeth as Tools
As tempting as it may be to tear open your presents or crack nuts with your teeth, one little slip could result in a dental emergency that brings your holiday celebrations to a screeching halt. Protect your teeth by using a nutcracker and opening your gifts slowly (it’ll make the reveal even more worthwhile!).
Just because the holidays are near doesn’t necessarily mean your teeth are at risk. You should be fine as long as you keep these tips in mind. Gifting yourself with a healthy smile will keep on giving long after the holiday season is over!
About the Practice
At Morgan-Hill Dental Care, our three dentists are experienced in a wide variety of areas of dentistry, allowing us to treat all of your family’s smiles under one roof. Although we offer same-day emergency appointments, we prefer to prevent dental problems from occurring in the first place! That’s why we’ll gladly provide tips on enjoying the holidays with your oral health intact. To learn more, you can contact us by calling 207-839-2655.