6 Holiday Dental Tips


Cookies, cakes, candy–the holidays tend to be a time when we indulge a bit. There’s nothing wrong with a little holiday indulgence, but we don’t want to neglect our teeth in the process. That is why we have summarized and condensed for you the American Dental Association’s article, “6 Tips for Cavity-Free Holidays.” The article contains 6 simple steps to keep your mouth healthy and well over the holidays.

1. Time what you eat:  Eat sweets and sugary foods with meals or soon after mealtime. Saliva production increases during meals and this extra saliva helps to cancel acids in your mouth produced by bacteria and to rinse away food particles.

2. Avoid hard candies: Hard candies not only contain sugar–they also can cause broken or chipped teeth. Nuts can also lead to broken or chipped teeth, so eat carefully!

3. Avoid sticky candies: Sticky candy clings to the tooth enamel which can lead to tooth decay over time. Candies like caramel and taffy can even yank out fillings.

4. Watch the dried fruit: Dried fruit around the holidays is a healthy snack, but it is also sticky. If you choose to eat dried fruit, rinse with water and brush!

5. Monitor the carbs: Carbs, which are abundant this time of year, often get trapped in your teeth. Take extra time to floss when you eat more carbs in order to remove the food particles that can cause plaque build-up.

6. Drink in moderation: Alcohol contains sugars that can affect your teeth, so it is a good idea to drink water along with your drinks. Also, too much alcohol can lead to dry mouth. 

 

Don’t be fooled, we here at Boulevard Dental Associates equally love our holiday treats. But we also understand that our eating, drinking and oral care habits over the holidays may need to be monitored to ensure our teeth don’t suffer during this time. So, have a wonderful holiday and enjoy to the fullest, but don’t neglect the only teeth you have!

Sources:

6 Tips for Cavity-Free Holidays http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/holiday-foods