As the holidays approach, you might be eager to savor the delicious treats you’ve been anticipating all year long. Many holiday traditions revolve around enjoying lavish meals. However, it’s crucial to find a way to indulge while still prioritizing your oral health. Please continue reading as we delve into some dental tips for maintaining a healthy mouth while balancing nutritional benefits with a few indulgences. Schedule an appointment with our general dentistry/dentists located in Basking Ridge & Morristown, NJ today to learn more about what we can do for you.
What Are Some Tips to Take Care of Your Teeth During the Holidays?
While you should permit yourself to splurge a bit during the holiday season, it’s important to balance that out with consuming teeth-healthy foods such as crunchy fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and plenty of refreshing water. Drinking water has various benefits, especially during the holidays as it can freshen your breath and clean away freshly formed bacteria.
With all the sweet treats that come around this time of year, you should remember to avoid sticky, hard, chewy, gummy, or sugary foods. Although they are tasty, these foods are no friend to your teeth and gums. Therefore, you should stay away from candy canes, chestnuts, and other standard holiday staples that could lead to cavities. Hard candies can also chip or crack your teeth if you bite down too hard on them. A helpful deterrent, while you are finding a safer alternative, is the expensive dental filling charge you’ll receive otherwise.
Teeth are useful for many things, for instance, chewing and enunciating. However, they are not good tools for opening bottles packages, and other similar activities. You should avoid using your teeth as a present opener as it can weaken the enamel, leading to cracking and breakage, and an expensive cosmetic repair.
Should I Visit My Dentist to Maintain My Oral Health?
In addition, you should stick to your daily oral health routine during the holidays. This should include twice-daily flossing, brushing, and gargling mouthwash. It’s important to brush your teeth for a least two minutes, particularly targeting molars where food particles easily get trapped. Flossing will also help eliminate food particles that get stuck between your teeth that could otherwise lead to plaque buildup over time. You should consider using a mouthwash that contains fluoride as it can help safeguard your teeth from cavities and other dental issues.
Furthermore, you should regularly visit your dentist to maintain good oral health during the holidays. You should schedule regular checkups with a dentist at least twice a year depending on your unique circumstances for optimal dental health. At Dental Associates of Basking Ridge, we are prepared to help you enjoy the holidays fully without compromising your white, bright smile or the health of your teeth and gums. Schedule an appointment with our dedicated team today.
