Holiday Dental Tips to Keep Healthy Teeth
Sweet Dental Tips for Holiday Sweets
The holidays are known for sugary, sweet treats that are so yummy you’ll have trouble putting down the cinnamon rolls, pumpkin pie and marshmallow-topped jello treats.
Visits to the dentist increase in January with new cavities, broken crowns – you name it. But you can PREVENT a dental visit with these simple tips.
How Do Sweet Treats Cause Cavities?
When you eat sugary foods or drinks, the sugar content creates the perfect atmosphere in your moist mouth for bacteria to grow. It also creates acids that wear down the enamel making wake for weakening your teeth and making the teeth susceptible to tooth decay.
Long term eating habits with sugar in the diet can cause permanent damage to tooth enamel and increase cavities leading to root canals etc.
Be smart and eat healthily. We aren’t saying cut sugar we are simply saying don’t LIVE ON IT.
Sugar produces damaging acids that affect the teeth for at least 20 minutes afterward.
“Brush and floss after sugary snacks and people really need to watch the energy drinks they are drinking at the gym. While they may boost energy unless they are zero carbs they are probably packed with sugar,” said Dr. Garry L. Smith.
Quick Steps for Holiday Oral Care
The best way to avoid cavities while still enjoying your holiday indulgences is to practice good oral hygiene. Here are some tips to help:
1. Eating sugary or carbohydrate-rich foods as part of a balanced meal is better than eating them alone. The body produces more saliva to help digest larger meals, which washes away more food and helps neutralize harmful acids before they can attack teeth.
2. Foods that take a long time to chew can damage teeth. That’s because sticky foods, including nutritious choices like raisins, dates and dried fruit, hold acid against teeth longer than do other foods. Try to limit your consumption of these foods.
3. After consuming high-acid food (fruits) or drinks (wine), rinse with water before brushing your teeth to prevent tooth erosion from the acids.
Keep a toothbrush and travel-size toothpaste handy (for example, in your pocket or purse or store these in the glove compartment of your car) so that you can brush right after eating at holiday parties. An added benefit is that you are less likely to eat after you brush your teeth, so you may end up eating less at parties.
If you’re unable to brush your teeth after eating, rinsing your mouth thoroughly with water or chewing sugar-free gum will help to wash away food particles, produce more saliva and neutralize acids in your mouth
4.“Brush up” on your brushing technique. Brush for two minutes! YES 2 MINUTES OF BRUSHING will save you from unnecessary dental issues.
Vigorous brushing can actually inflame the gums. Be gentle, take your time. If you get into the habit of brushing for two to three minutes every morning, every night and after every meal during the holidays, you’ll be more likely to keep those good habits with your regular dental care routine.