Most people spend the last few months of the year celebrating the holidays, and that means indulging in holiday food, drinks, and lots of sweets. Here are some tips from Sinick Family Dental that you can follow for healthy teeth through the holiday season.
1. Eat Your Sweets with Your Meal
Even a dentist will admit it’s a challenge to pass up all those sugary drinks and goodies. What you can do is try to eat your sweets with your meal instead of as a snack. When you eat a full meal, your body produces more saliva, which helps rinse away the sugar. Saliva also helps neutralize harmful acidity from foods and helps prevent decay.
2. Bring a Travel-Size Hygiene Kit with You
Visiting a friend for a holiday meal or party? Bring a travel-size dental kit, and after you finish indulging, sneak away to the restroom for a quick brush and rinse. If you can’t brush, rinsing and chewing sugar-free gum will at least wash away food particles from the surfaces of your teeth.
3. Stay Away from Sugary Hard Candies
What’s worse than sugary food? Sugary hard candy. It’s one thing to have sugar in your mouth, and it’s another to hold it in your mouth for an extended period. If you can’t resist those candy canes, definitely don’t risk a dental injury by biting into them.
4. Pay Extra Attention to Your Dental Routine
During the busy holiday season, it’s easy to skimp on caring for your teeth, so be aware of your daily dental habits. You may be full of holiday cheer and ready to jump into your cozy PJs, but take a few minutes to floss, brush, and rinse as you always do. Your teeth will thank you for it.
5. Schedule Your New Year’s Dental Cleaning
Scheduling your first checkup and cleaning for the new year now can give you peace of mind throughout the holidays, knowing your dental health is under control. Call Sinick Family Dental in Medina, OH, to get started.
Happy Holidays!