Tis the season to be jolly… true.
But while the holidays can keep you busy, you should never let it disrupt your daily oral health care routine.
In fact, this is an especially important time to look after your teeth, as the sugary treats around are more plentiful than usual.
Keep your holiday smile bright by following these tips.
Don’t forget your basic oral hygiene
Due to their busy schedules planning parties and buying gifts here and there, a lot of people forget the most important oral hygiene tasks that can counteract the effects stress and diet on their teeth.
After eating, don’t forget to brush your teeth at the very least.
If you can’t-do it right away, just chew a piece of sugarless gum to increase the flow of saliva and wash away the bacteria.
But be sure to brush and floss as soon as you get the chance.
If you are a bruxist, visit your dentist for a custom night guard
Holidays can be stressful that it can cause some people to grind and clench their teeth.
And if you already have that habit, it could get worse. Grinding and clenching can potentially result in chipped teeth, headaches, and jaw pain.
Now, we know that no matter how much you love your dentist, he or she isn’t the one that you’d want to spend time with this season.
But your dentist is the one who can recommend solutions like wearing at mouth-guard at night to help protect your teeth against each other.
Keep yourself hydrated
Understandably, it can be quite difficult to resist that sumptuous bottle of red wine sitting on the table.
Before indulging in this nice treat, think first about the effects that it can have on your oral Surgeon San Diego.
Take a glass or two, and if you’re still thirsty after that, try drinking plenty of water.
Not only does it have positive effects on your overall health, but it can also help prevent bad breath by flushing out any bacteria that lingers in the mouth.
Avoid too much chewy and sugary treats
The temptation of indulging in sweets (yup, that candy platter) and chewy sticky stuff (toffee and caramel, anyone?) can be quite difficult to overcome, so we won’t stop you from enjoying them.
However, you have to watch how much you consume. And after munching on them, don’t forget to rinse your mouth and brush your teeth as soon as you can.
Better yet, prepare healthy alternatives to these sweet treats by serving fresh fruits (a fresh fruit salad, perhaps?) or crunchy vegetables.
Don’t use your teeth as a tool
If you need to shell nuts, your teeth are not the right tool for it.
Find a nutcracker and never ever use your teeth as an alternative.
The hard surface of nutshells may damage your teeth or even chip or crack them. You don’t want to spend the holidays with broken teeth now, do you?
The holiday season is something that we look forward to every year because it is not just about the tasty treats, but all for spending quality time with our loved ones as well.
However, the busy schedule and preparations should not be an excuse for you to forget about your oral health.
You wouldn’t want a toothache to ruin the celebration, right? Follow the tips above so you and your teeth will all be joyful and merry.