How Can I Enjoy the Holidays Without Damaging My Teeth?

The holiday season is known for businesses, workplaces, and households offering plates filled with traditional candies and baked goods. It might seem innocent to enjoy a cookie at the bank, hot chocolate at work, and a butterscotch disk at the shoe store as you go through your day, but this kind of sugar consumption can cause lasting harm to your smile. Here are a few ways to keep your teeth shiny and bright during the holidays.

Stay On Top of Your Oral Hygiene Routine

Even though people typically get some time off work or school for the holidays, the germs that cause tooth decay and gum disease stay on the job year-round. When the holiday season comes around, be sure to practice an excellent oral hygiene regimen that includes:

• Brushing: You should give your teeth a thorough brushing at least twice a day, ideally after breakfast and before bed, with each session lasting for about two minutes. Using a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste, clean every surface of your teeth using short, gentle, circular strokes. Be sure to wait at least thirty minutes after eating.
• Flossing: Flossing should be considered as important as brushing because it can eliminate plaque and food debris from the tight spaces between your teeth.
• Using antibacterial mouthwash: Dentists recommend that everyone over six use antibacterial mouthwash. This stuff can kill more than 99% of the germs that cause oral infections and leave your mouth feeling fresh and minty.

Steer Clear of the Sugary Beverages

People like to enjoy sweet drinks around the holidays, but these can be rich in sugar and other things that can harm your teeth. While hot chocolate is loved for its rich flavor and ability to warm the drinker on a cold night, it is also high in sugar that can cause tooth decay and dairy ingredients that can cause bad breath. Eggnog is all this and worse, as in addition to sugar and dairy, it contains alcohol, which makes it acidic. Acid is one of the worst things for your teeth because it begins eroding enamel on contact. Worst of all are sugary sodas, which are sticky and extremely high in acid and sugar.

The holiday season is great for celebrating loved ones and reconnecting with old friends, and enjoying a treat occasionally is a big part of that. By taking care of your teeth around the holidays, you can keep them healthy and strong into the new year and beyond.

About the Practice

Real Dental makes going to the dentist a smooth and pleasant experience in Grand Prairie, TX. Led by Drs. Christopher Duong, John Kuan, Jim Lee, and Bradley Kou, the staff delivers top-quality care in a warm and welcoming environment. Areas of expertise include general, cosmetic, pediatric, restorative, and emergency dentistry. For more information about caring for your teeth during the holidays, contact his office online or dial (817) 406-7239.