Christmas is a time when people indulge in several sweet treats and candies. However, it is completely fine to enjoy them as long as you take good care of your teeth. Here are some simple tips for doing so:

Brush Your Teeth Regularly

It’s no surprise that overindulging in sweet treats and starchy foods can take a toll on teeth, but did you know that brushing twice a day is an important part of a healthy smile? It’s true! When you brush, you’re removing the food particles that feed oral bacteria and retain plaque. Make sure you’re brushing gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush to avoid damaging or irritating your gum tissue. If you can’t brush your teeth after eating due to time constraints, try rinsing your mouth with water instead. A water rinse washes away some of the food particles and can help to prevent cavities. Just be sure to follow up with a thorough brushing as soon as possible.

Dental care and dental hygiene are incredibly important during the holidays, so if you’re due for a checkup and cleaning, be sure to schedule an appointment with your dentist. 

Watch Your Diet

While heavy meals are fun, it’s important to be careful of what you eat and drink. Sugary candies and other sweet treats can cause cavities and tooth decay. You don’t want to spend the holidays in the dentist’s chair getting cavities filled and teeth fixed!

During this time of year, it’s easy to eat a lot of foods that are high in sugar content. This includes sugary snacks like cookies, cakes, pies, brownies, ice cream, candy, and more. These foods are also low in minerals that are beneficial to your teeth, which means that you could be damaging your tooth enamel when you eat them.

Beverages like soda also have a high sugar content and are not good for the teeth. If you are going to drink sodas, try to drink diet or sugar-free instead to keep your smile healthy and strong.

It’s also important to limit snacking in between meals. When you snack, you expose your teeth to sugar and acid that damage the enamel and cause tooth decay. Instead of eating throughout the day, try to eat three balanced meals and two healthy snacks per day. This will help you keep healthy and avoid extra trips to the dentist’s office for tooth fillings.

Avoid Sugary and Sticky Candies

Sweets and treats are a big part of the holiday season, but too much sugar is just as big a problem as too little! Too much sugar encourages tooth decay because it feeds the bacteria in the mouth that produce acids that erode enamel and cause cavities. Instead of choosing a sweet treat this year, look for healthier options like fruits or vegetables that do not stick to your teeth and lead to decay. If you are craving something sweet, reach for dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate. Dark chocolate has less sugar and is richer in antioxidants than milk chocolate – win-win!

In addition to avoiding sticky candies, you should also be careful to avoid hard foods that can crack teeth and cause damage. Crunchy foods like popcorn kernels can wreak havoc on your smile by cracking and even breaking teeth. Instead of grabbing a handful of popcorn this holiday, reach for some fresh fruit instead. Fruits like apples and oranges aren’t just healthy for your body; they also clean your teeth as you eat them. Some studies have shown that eating an apple a day can actually help whiten teeth by removing surface stains left behind from things like coffee, tea, and cigarettes.

Drink Plenty of Water

Not only does water help cleanse your mouth, but it can also reduce the chance of developing cavities. That’s because saliva plays a role in rinsing away food debris and neutralizing acids in the mouth. If you don’t have enough water in your system, the minerals in your saliva won’t be able to do their job as well, which can lead to an increased risk of tooth decay.

Make sure you’re drinking plenty of water throughout the day if you can drink through a straw to minimize contact with your teeth. That way, you can prevent any unwanted stains from forming on the enamel due to beverages such as coffee or red wine.

Visit our office, Midtown Dental, at 750 George Washington Way, Richland, WA, Suite 1 99352. You can also reach us at (509) 946-1678.