Overview
Holiday season is upon us and we are back with some healthy tips for your teeth this holiday. Holiday means lot of eating, drinking and being merry. It is not easy to stay healthy during the holiday season. But we can always try so we are here with some little things that you can do without much effort, to take care of your teeth. Try to make oral health a priority while you enjoy all the holiday festivities.
Tips for healthy teeth
- Don’t forget your usual oral care routine – Brush at least twice a day for two minutes, floss at least once a day and use a mouth rinse to clear any left-over food in the mouth. Don’t slip up on this routine especially during the holiday season. This will be the tooth saver for you this season.
- Drink water – Keep yourself hydrated and go for that glass of water instead of a sugary soda or wine to quench your thirst. Drinking water dilutes the acids in the mouth that harm the teeth.
- Use a fluoride toothpaste to brush your teeth. Fluoride protects teeth from decay. It helps strengthen the enamel too. Fluoridated tap water is one of the best sources of fluoride after a fluoride toothpaste.
- Be sugar smart – All of us love eating lots of cookies and candies in the festive season. Either you eat those in moderation or go for healthier kinds of cookies like oat meal cookies, gingerbread cookies and almond cookies which are much healthier because of lesser sugar content. And they are tasty too. Vow to stay sugar savvy during this time.
- Don’t use your teeth as a nut cracker. Your teeth can chip and land you in trouble. Always use a nut cracker to open nuts and scissors to open packets of goodies.
- Substitute chocolates with fruit like strawberries, cranberries, blueberries and blackberries. Go for dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate to prepare delicacies. Dark chocolate contains polyphenols which kill the bacteria in the mouth.
- Protect your teeth with a mouthguard if playing any contact sports with family and friends.
- Eat your treats in one go and generally eat them along with your meals so that the saliva we produce while eating can help neutralize the acids from the treats and desserts.
- It may not be possible to brush your teeth every time you eat a sweet but you can always rinse your mouth with plain tap water just after eating any candy or sweets. This will help wash away any food stuck between teeth and not let them settle on the teeth which can cause decay.
- Minimize the acidic foods and drinks like citrus fruit drinks, fizzy sodas and wines. Acids are not good for the teeth. If you have to drink these anyways then do drink using a straw and drink quickly and do not sip away slowly so as to avoid these drinks coating your teeth and thereby staining and damaging them.
- Use sugar free chewing gum after a meal to remove the harmful bacteria from the mouth. Chewing gum also stimulates the salivary glands and this leads to an increase in the production of saliva which can help neutralize acids produced from all this eating.
- Alcohol increases the risk of developing gum diseases so preferably avoid it as much as possible. If that is not possible drink in moderation.
- Eat more vegetables and fruits so as to give your body the nourishment it needs. Chew on fresh herbs to decrease bad odors and bacteria build up in the mouth.
- Cheese contains natural cavity fighting agents and they also help teeth stay strong. The calcium and phosphate in the cheese helps maintain pH level of the mouth. So, include cheeses in place of sugary stuff in meals.
- Avoid hard candies and toffees completely if you have any fillings, crowns, bridges or veneers. The sticky caramel in these sweets can stick to your teeth and pull off these dental restorations or at times even chip the tooth.
- Get plenty of rest. Proper rest is needed not only for good overall health but it is critical to good dental health also.
- Lastly make sure you go to your dentist before the start and after the end of the holiday season so that if there is any damage to your teeth the same can be diagnosed and corrected as soon as possible.
We know some of these things are not easy to do especially if one loves eating sweet and has a sweet tooth. But it is important that you take care of your teeth. Holidays and festivities are for fun and enjoyment with friends and family. A little care from you can ensure you have a good holiday.
You must also remember that most dental clinics are also closed during the holiday season so you must take extra care of your teeth during this time. Teeth are precious, enamel once lost can never regrow and your dental health is intimately connected to your overall health. Hence remember to take care of your teeth in the best possible ways. Remember a stitch in time save nine. We wish you have great holidays which are filled with food, drinks, fun, laughter, joy and most importantly health.
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If you have any dental queries, you can always call Ensure Dental Care on 940-274-3229 for more information or to schedule an appointment. We are the family dentist near you. Ensure Dental Care is the one of the best family dental clinics at Saginaw Texas. We accept all major insurance providers. We also have in house payment plan. We have a very experienced and professional team of dental practitioners and we look forward to serving you to the best of our abilities.