Be Merry! Holiday Survival Guide for Your Teeth

The holiday season is often the time of the year when people indulge in sumptuous dishes, sweet treats, and alcoholic beverages a little bit more than usual. However, it is not an excuse to neglect your dental health.

While it can be tempting to enjoy desserts and bubbly treats, the last thing you want is an unexpected visit to a dental clinic in Brampton due to painful dental problems. Enjoying too much sweets can make your mouth a thriving environment for bacteria, which results in tooth cavities. The buildup of plaque causes cavities and tooth decay and is heavily influenced by what we eat and how well we clean our teeth.

To ensure your teeth remain in great shape, follow these simple yet effective tips to help you get through the holidays with a healthy smile.

1. Do Not Forget to Brush, Floss, and Rinse Your Mouth

Brushing your teeth twice a day helps get rid of leftover food particles and the sticky film that leads to tooth problems. Also, flossing your teeth with a dental thread removes food bits in hard-to-reach areas. If you let the food particles sit there overnight, it can cause more tooth decay and other dental issues.

Rinsing your mouth with water is a smart way to wash away extra sugars and acids after eating. Using mouthwash daily can also help kill germs and freshen your breath.

2. Stay Hydrated

Drinking water rinses away sugars, bits of food, and acids from your teeth and gums. With all the tasks on your long Christmas to-do list that need to be completed, we often forget to drink the recommended 8 glasses of water each day. This can cause your mouth to produce less saliva, leading to the dryness of your mouth.

Dry mouth can make harmful bacteria more active in producing acids every time you eat or drink since you have less saliva to wash them away. The more acid produced in your mouth, the higher your risk of cavities. So, be sure to stay hydrated during your day; your teeth will appreciate it.

3. Eat in Moderation

Overeating can harm your oral health. Sleeping with a full stomach often leads to indigestion. This causes the digestive acids to travel up to your mouth, creating a low-pH environment that harms your teeth and gums.

Increased acid levels can erode your enamel and raise your risk of getting cavities. To savour your holiday meals and protect your teeth, chew slowly and take breaks between bites. This way, you will enjoy your food and be more aware of when you are satisfied.

4. Replace Your Old Toothbrush

When was the last time you got yourself a new toothbrush? As people are getting new gifts, it is also the right time to check the condition of your current toothbrush and get a new one. Be sure to change your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months, or sooner if the bristles start to look worn out.

5. Choose Tooth-Friendly Food

During family gatherings and office parties, incorporate nutritious dishes alongside the tempting sweets and heavy sides. Your dentist in Langley, BC recommends eating wholesome foods that not only fuel your body but also safeguard your teeth and gums. Prepare assorted fruits to satisfy your desire for something sweet, rather cavity-causing sweet treats. Cheese, nuts, sugar-free yogurt, and carrot sticks are additional food choices that can thwart tooth decay and curb sugar cravings that often arise after indulging in too many processed carbs.

6. Take It Easy on the Holiday Drinks

Holiday drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, are acidic. Acid can make the outer layer of your teeth softer and weaken the protective enamel. Drinking too much alcoholic beverages can cause dehydration, resulting in a condition known as dry mouth. A trusted dentist in Mississauga recommends chewing sugar-free gum and drinking water to help balance your mouth and get rid of any harmful bacteria.

7. Establish a Meal Schedule.

Now is not the appropriate time for endless feasting. Consuming snacks all day can severely harm your teeth and gums. When you eat constantly, you consistently nourish the bacteria responsible for tooth decay in your mouth. This means that your teeth are exposed to acidic substances more frequently and for longer periods between brushings. Since a healthy mouth can only endure up to five acid assaults each day before enamel erosion begins, continuous eating significantly increases the likelihood of tooth decay. Creating specific timeframes for eating, and even more crucially, for refraining from eating, gives your teeth the opportunity to recuperate from acid attacks during breaks between meals.

8. Set Up an Appointment With Your Dentist

The ideal moment to set up a visit with your dentist is just after the holidays! Overindulgence in holiday treats can occur, and even if you make a strong effort to maintain good oral health, everyone may veer off course a bit. Arrange for a teeth cleaning and checkup to ensure you are still heading in the right direction.