There are certain times of the year when it may be more difficult to take care of your teeth. Especially around the holidays, there are many temptations that can lead to multiple trips to your dentist. Here are some tips to help you maintain good oral hygiene while celebrating the holidays.
Stay Away From the Sweets
Although candy is typically associated with Halloween, you would be surprised to find out that there are typically just as many sweets around, if not more, on both Thanksgiving and Christmas. Although it can be tempting to pig out during this special time of year, it can also lead to many visits to your dentist in the spring. It’s best to practice self-control in terms of how many sweets you eat to avoid cavities and tooth decay.
Carry Floss
After a meal, you can easily find something stuck in your teeth that you just have to get out. Some pieces of food are more obvious than others, leaving small portions of food stuck in your teeth for long periods of time. This is the type of thing that causes cavities and plaque build-up around your teeth. Although you may not see the immediate effects of leaving food in your teeth, the long-term effects can be costly. Carrying floss around can help you get those tiny bits of food out of your teeth before you forget they were there in the first place.
Try to Protect Your Teeth
When you see presents under the Christmas tree, you might just be tempted to rip apart the packaging with your teeth. Although this can be fun, you want to avoid putting your teeth under unnecessary stress. It can be easy to be wreckless around the holiday season, but that doesn’t change the fact that one crack in a tooth can lead to many problems down the road. So try not to rip things apart orally, don’t crunch on ice after drinking sodas, and attempt to not chew too viciously as you enjoy the holiday season.
The best dentists will tell you that the holiday season can be the downfall for many people’s oral hygiene. Don’t become a victim at such a wonderful time of the year. According to the CDC, slightly less than 50% of all adults over the age of 30 have gum disease. Don’t become a statistic, utilize dental services this holiday season to ensure your oral health lasts a lifetime.
