It’s time for the holidays! The holidays are a time for friends and family, and also food. It’s also the time of year during which your dentist most worries about your dental health. Consider what’s the norm in December, consider all those plates of cookies someone brings in to share at work, or the gift baskets, or the Christmas parties, or . . . it’s everywhere. And that’s one of the things that’s best about the month of December. But good quality oral health still needs to take place. Here are a few ways to both enjoy yourself this holiday season, but also protect your mouth.
Limit the snacking
This rule obviously applies regardless of the seasons. Excessive snacking is bad for our teeth and our mouths. If our mouths are constantly exposed to the sugars from foods (this means all foods, not just sugary foods like candies) the bacteria in our mouths have a steady supply of sugars to consume, and, when they do, they produce acids that eat away at the enamel covering on our teeth, giving us cavities. So, snack less. If you are going to snack, brush your teeth during the day, and also drink plenty of water. Water will clean the surfaces of the teeth, but also hydrate you, and keep up the saliva levels in the mouth, which will also clean the teeth.
Plan Ahead
If you are going out to the relatives for the Holidays bring what you need to continue to keep your teeth clean. Bring floss and your toothbrush and keep to your routines. If you are going to a holiday party at, say, midday, and you routinely brush your teeth once every morning and night, then maybe add in an extra brushing post-party. Bring healthy snacks with you to work. most of us snack at least once during the day, and being equipped with something healthy to eat when the hunger pang strikes, will most likely keep you satisfied and away from that plate of cookies. As in most things, an ounce of prevention equals a pound of cure; keep to your quality oral care habits, don’t let them slide this Holiday season.
Merry Christmas from Brian Francis Dental Center!