The holiday season is on the way. There’s a chill in the air, folks all around the country are busting out their warmest sweaters and there are plenty of tasty sweet treats just around the corner.
1. Brush After Every Meal and Floss Once Per Day
Just because it’s the holidays doesn’t mean you can stop maintaining good oral health habits! The best advice we can give you is to always brush and floss consistently. Brushing after every meal is the best way to keep your teeth healthy all year round and flossing once per day will help remove food and candy from between your teeth, where it can wreak havoc on your teeth and gums.
2. Eat Sweets in A Single “Session” – Not Consistently Throughout the Day
It’s best to eat sweets like cake, pie, candy and cookies in a single sitting, once per day – after a meal is the ideal time. This is because if you eat sweets all at once, you’ll be able to minimize the time you spend with sugar coating your teeth and you can remove it by brushing just once. Also, after eating a meal, the saliva you have built up in your mouth is more efficient at breaking down the sugar, protecting your teeth.
Snacking on sweets throughout the day will have the opposite effect. Sugar levels in your mouth will remain high, providing bacteria with a holiday feast! This can result in cavities and worse.
3. Be Aware of Your Dental Work – Don’t Damage It!
Be careful about your crowns, fillings, and dental bridges. You can easily pull out dental work if you eat soft, gummy candy like Twizzlers, taffy, and other such snacks. You also want to avoid damaging dental work like crowns and veneers with hard foods like nuts and hard candies.
4. See Your Dentist for An Appointment Before the Season Starts
Make sure you’re in good health before the holiday season kicks off! If you get an appointment with your dentist, you can get your teeth cleaned before the holidays, and make sure you’re in good health and ready for the treats that the season has to offer.
Follow These Tips – Keep Your Mouth Healthy!
With these helpful tips, you can avoid cavities, damaged dental work, and gum disease this holiday season, and still enjoy your favorite treats and desserts.