12 Holiday Season Oral Health Tips: Part 2

We’re back! Here’s part two of our two-part series intended to help you maximize your oral health throughout the holiday season and into 2023. In our first post, we explored the following tips: maintaining your brushing and flossing routine, setting ground rules, being mindful of what you’re putting into your mouth, reducing sugar intake, incorporating healthy substitutes, and protecting your tooth enamel. If you missed our first holiday season oral health tips post, you can check it out here!

Fruits & Vegetables are Your Friends

This, of course, goes for the holiday season and beyond. Simply put, there really is not a better alternative to natural food. Fruits and vegetables provide the necessary vitamins and minerals for healthy teeth. So make sure you weave these tooth-friendly foods into your diet… you know, between the array of desserts and cheese platters!

Prepare a Holiday Brushing Kit

You can never be too prepared! Plans change, perhaps even more so during the holiday season. Travel-size toothbrushes and mini flosses can be easy to pack along for those “just in case” moments. 

Cut the Candy & Carry Sugar-Free Gum

…not completely, but reduce your consumption of hard and sticky candies as they can be very detrimental to your oral health. To help you curb your candy cravings during the holiday season, make sure you carry sugar-free gum with you. It’ll not only reduce your caloric intake, but it’ll freshen your breath and support a healthier smile!

Moderate Alcohol Intake

This is a sound piece of advice in general, but today we’re just focusing on the holiday season. At holiday parties, be mindful of how high alcohol intake can negatively impact your oral health. Alcohol has been linked to many oral health effects, including: oral cancer, caries, periodontal disease, halitosis, tooth wear, staining and trauma. It’s critical that you hydrate and appreciate how water impacts our oral health as well. Enjoy your favorite holiday cocktail or glass of wine, but do so in moderation!

Bottle Openers Exist for a Reason

Specifically to further address the point above, remember to use inanimate resources at your disposal when indulging in festive libations. We don’t want you to have to make an emergency dental call because of a cracked, chipped or knocked out tooth – let’s try to avoid sending your holiday in the wrong direction! Keep your teeth safe, healthy and protected this holiday season. 

Give Tooth-Friendly Holiday Gifts

You know what items make for great stocking stuffers or other holiday-centric presents? We’ll give you a hint: they help to promote healthy teeth. You guessed it – we’re talking floss, mini mouthwashes, flavored toothpastes, toothbrushes with characters on them for the youngins or electric toothbrushes for the teens. Who says oral health can’t be FUN?

Bottom line, we want to ensure that we provide you with tips and education that will help you keep your oral health on track this holiday season. Remember, a healthier smile means a healthier you! As always, we certainly encourage you to reach out with any oral health concerns at any time. You’re our priority, and we’re committed to helping you to maintain your oral health during the good, the bad and the festive!