Dental Tips for the Holidays

Keeping your teeth healthy this holiday season can be tough for many, as the holidays mean enjoying seasonal cookies, cakes, candies, drinks, and snacks. While these treats are delicious, they are also full of sugar and can damage teeth, gums, and dental work.

The good news is that you can still indulge this season with these 6 tips.

6 Ways to Keep Your Teeth Healthy This Holiday Season

1. Make Treats a Part of Your Meal

When you decide to indulge in a sweet, be sure to eat it during mealtime, rather than as a dessert or snack. Here’s why: Excess saliva in the mouth prevents sugar from sticking to teeth and causing damage.

2. Don’t Forget to Eat Fruits

Not only are fruits naturally sweet, many of them mix with saliva to remove food particles from teeth. They also work to eliminate bacteria that can stain and discolor teeth. Several fruits to try include: Apples, strawberries and kiwis.

3. Make Sure to Get Quality Sleep

If you want to keep your teeth healthy this holiday season, be sure to get at least 8 hours of sleep per night.

4. Consume Plenty of Vegetables

It’s important to keep your teeth and gums free from food build-up and plaque during the holidays. In addition to brushing and flossing, consuming carrots, cauliflower, broccoli and cucumbers can help clean your teeth and get rid of any harmful residue.

5. Drink Up

In addition to enjoying your favorite seasonal drink, you should also take care to consume at least 8 glasses of water daily. Water rinses away food particles, hydrates gums, aids in the production of saliva, and helps build tooth enamel.

6. Beware of Certain Holiday Foods

Seasonal candy, cookies, drinks, and cakes are one of the best parts of the holidays. But in order to keep teeth healthy this holiday season, you should try to limit consumption of foods that can be especially harmful to teeth.

These include: Candy canes; Caramels, taffy, peanut brittle, and pecan pie; Popcorn; Eggnog, cider, and hot chocolate; Red and white wine; Fruitcake; Peppermint bark; and Crunchy Christmas cookies.

Want Additional Tips for Healthy Teeth?

To learn more tips for keeping your teeth healthy this holiday season, please contact our office today to schedule a consultation with leading cosmetic dentist Dr. Rochelle E. Hackley DDS.