The holiday season is known for its prevalence of delicious treats. Unfortunately, candy canes and scrumptious feasts can do serious damage to your teeth. At Klooster Family Dentistry, we want to make sure your teeth remain healthy despite the temptations of the holiday season. Here are a few ways that you can protect and care for your teeth this year.
Don’t Neglect Your Usual Dental Hygiene Routine
With all the excitement of family visits, special events, gift-giving, and general merrymaking, it is easy to get distracted from your dental care plan. Make sure you remember to brush your teeth after every meal and floss twice per day. Even if you partake in harmful sweet treats, adhering to your daily routine can help you combat plaque and prevent cavities.
Remember to Hydrate
It may come as a surprise to some, but drinking water can have positive effects on your dental health. A direct effect of hydration is that water can wash away newly formed bacteria in your mouth, helping you avoid build-up. Indirectly, drinking lots of water can fill you up so that you don’t continuously snack on treats that may cause dental problems.
Avoid Dark Drinks
Light-colored champagne is a staple of New Year’s Eve parties, but darker red wines and cranberry cocktails are common at Christmas events. Unfortunately, dark drinks are well-known for their teeth-staining power, and drinking them can leave you with a smile significantly less bright. Drink white wines, water, and other clear or light-colored beverages instead.
Shun The Treats You Don’t Want to Shun
This one is the hardest tip on the list, no doubt. During holidays, we all love to treat ourselves to candy canes, toffees, mints, gummy snacks, and soft, chewy cookies. As hard as it is to say “no,” try to avoid these foods as much as possible. Hard candies can harm your teeth, but chewy candies can leave bits of themselves stuck to your teeth, leading to a buildup of harmful plaque. Try to replace these treats with healthier snacks like carrots, whole-grain foods, and deliciously crunchy veggies.
It’s okay to splurge every once in a while, but be careful to make good decisions throughout the holiday season. If you need to schedule a dental appointment, contact us online here.