The end-of-year holidays are almost here, so you’re likely excited about all the fun festivities. These might include gift-giving, family get-togethers, parties, and more! That said, not everything about this time is lovely. Certain aspects of it seriously harm your oral health. Indeed, your teeth and gums could suffer if you aren’t careful. Luckily, however, your Frisco dentist can keep that from happening. Here’s a summary of why holidays risk smiles, including ways to keep them from doing so.
Why Do Holidays Put Smiles at Risk?
Holidays tend to encourage two bad dental habits: grazing on junk food and poor oral hygiene. Taken together, these practices lead to tooth and gum problems that damage your mouth.
The junk food issue is especially troublesome. For one thing, the items eaten are often candy canes, peppermints, chocolate, and other sweets. Such things are high in tooth-eroding sugar, so eating them excessively triggers cavities and gum disease. Furthermore, constant snacking results in a dry mouth, which increases the prevalence of harmful oral bacteria.
On the other hand, the lousy hygiene aspect of holidays is also dangerous. After all, many people forget to brush and floss amidst their travel plans. Such changes to one’s dental routine then increase the odds of tooth decay. In this respect, you could say dental care should never take a holiday.
Great Dental Tips for the Holidays
Fortunately, you don’t have to put up with the holiday risks to your smile. You can keep your teeth safe from them with the proper habits. For example, try using those listed below:
- Follow a “Smile Friendly” Diet – Even if they’re popular, holiday sweets don’t need to be part of your menu. Instead, try eating other seasonal foods that help your pearly whites. Some well-known ones are turkey, carrots, and spinach, all of which have nutrients that protect teeth.
- Drink Water – Try to lay off the soda and wine for a while, as these can wear away your tooth enamel. Red wine, in particular, has tannins that could stain your smile. A better beverage would be water, as it’s sugar-free, non-acidic, and a great oral rinse.
- Pack a Dental Kit – To help you remember your oral care routines, pack a dental kit for any holiday trips. A good one will include a soft-bristled toothbrush, min-mouthwash, mini-toothpaste, and floss.
In the end, letting bad oral health ruin your holiday season isn’t a good idea. Therefore, practice the tips above so the latter stays the most wonderful time of the year!
About the Practice
Archway Dental is based in Frisco, TX. As led by Dr. Deval Parmar, our practice strives for calm dental care with excellent results. To that end, we perform high-quality treatments that span preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry, not to mention emergency procedures. The team is also a qualified provider of therapies for TMJ and gum disease! For more information or to schedule an appointment, you can reach us on our website or by phone at (972)-972-4646.