How To Take Care Of Your Teeth During Holidays?
Holidays are the magical times of the year when your teeth are most prone to experiencing not-so-magical holiday tooth abuse. However, not all your holidays need to go without a cavity-free smile. Here are some tips on how to take care of your teeth during the holiday season!
Go easy on the candy
It’s almost impossible to skip on candies on Christmas, Easter, and other such sweet-filled holidays. Excessive sweets result in extreme dental abuse and also lead to permanent dental complications.
The trick is to be mindful of candy consumption. You can enjoy a moderate amount of sweets if you brush your teeth afterward. Brushing your teeth after eating candies ensures that there is food residue left for cavity formation.
It’s also advised to drink plenty of water after eating sweets, such as cakes and candies. Drinking water helps clean your oral cavity and washes off residue to keep your teeth healthy.
Maintain a routine
Most people follow their dental routine religiously throughout the year but skip on them entirely during the holiday season. This is not a good practice as even a slight lapse in oral hygiene care can lead to drastic consequences over time.
It would help if you also made a conscious effort to continue your daily dental routine. Your routine should include regular teeth brushing twice a day for two minutes, flossing after food, and using mouthwash whenever needed.
Make smarter food choices
It is tempting to go overboard with everything sweet in the holiday season. However, it’s also highly damaging to your teeth.
Choose healthier, much-safer food alternatives whenever possible, such as eating a carrot to satisfy your sweet tooth instead of candies.
You should also avoid food that is hard to bite, nuts, for example. If you don’t have a nutcracker to crack the nut, avoid the nut. There is never a good reason to punish your teeth for a small snack.
Prepare a contingency plan
Despite all your precautions, things still might get out of hand, and you might land in a dental emergency. Most dental doctors and facilities are closed on holidays, making having a dental contingency plan essential for holidays.
Always keep a dental care kit with you. This kit might include dental floss, some pain relievers, gauze, and other dental medications that you might be taking at the time.
Talk to your doctor about an emergency referral beforehand. Your doctor may not be available during the holidays, but they can always guide you properly about getting emergency dental care if the need arises.
It’s never a good idea to wait a month or two before getting treatment. If you have a chipped tooth or dental pain, contact a nearby emergency dental care facility as soon as possible.
For more advice on how to take care of your teeth, feel free to contact River Valley Smile Center at 479.646.0706. You can also book an appointment to have your dental problems evaluated by our experienced dentists, or visit us on Facebook.
