Helpful Tips for Keeping Your Teeth Healthy during the Holiday Season

‘Tis the season to… celebrate healthy teeth! With the onset of holiday celebrations about to enter full swing, be prepared to experience peace, love, joy… and FOOD!

In order to maintain a high standard of oral health as you eat & treat your way through this holiday season, there are several factors that you can incorporate into your (and your family’s!) routine for a healthier smile:

Lay a solid foundation

We’re all guilty of this – when there’s a mouthwatering spread staring you down at a holiday party, it’s hard to put a firm stop to continuous grazing. We know food is always better when it’s prepared by someone else and displayed in a festive manner. However, if you don’t give yourself, your kids or your festivity frolicking sidekick a pep talk before you hit the table, then you may find yourself in more trouble than you anticipate. So, lay a solid foundation of ground rules & consider eating some healthy snacks (with a theme!) before party fare makes an appearance to reduce over-indulging, and improve your chances of a happy stomach and healthy teeth.

Stick to your brushing & flossing routine

What can we say – we’re a dental practice; healthy teeth are our passion. What other tooth care tip did you expect from us? But seriously; maintaining your brushing and flossing routine is imperative throughout the holiday season. Because you’re probably around more food than you are during a typical day, it’s important to brush at least every morning and every night for two minutes each time. And don’t forget about brushing’s sidekick: floss. All that sweet, sticky goodness you’re munching on this month? Well, it could do you a lot more damage if floss weren’t a mouth mainstay.

Reduce your intake of sugar

A cookie or a sweet here and there is more than acceptable. After all, we’re human too, we all get cravings and most of us need a little sugary kick to get through the day every now and again. BUT, try to stick to one treat per celebration rather than continuous sugar-shocking throughout the day. Too many sugary foods can have a detrimental impact on your tooth enamel and can cause cavities, so you always want to be mindful of what you’re consuming.

Incorporate healthy substitutes into your spread

No, we’re not recommending that you offer Brussels sprouts in place of gingerbread cookies (though secretly we don’t hate the idea), but we are simply suggesting that there be an array of fruits, veggies and other healthy snacks available to accompany your smorgasbord of “good stuff”. It may also be worth your while to point out these healthy alternatives to your kiddos so that they’re aware that there’s more than just sweets to choose from. Wishful thinking? A holiday miracle? It’s worth a mention.

Tooth-friendly holiday gifts

They say there’s nothing better than the gift of giving. And we agree! 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 youngsters or electric toothbrushes for the teens. Who says oral health can’t be FUN?

We’re curious – what are your favorite holiday season events, foods or traditions? As always, please don’t hesitate to contact us with any oral health questions or concerns. Happy Holidays!