7 Tips to Keep Your Teeth Healthy & Bright Over the Holidays

We are in the midst of the holiday season which means that you are probably being tempted more than usual by deliciously sweet treats everywhere that you go. Access Dental & Dentures wants you to enjoy yourself, but keep in mind the damaging effects that sugar can have on your teeth. Your trusted dentists in Southern Missouri have a few tips below on how you can enjoy those tempting treats but still keep your teeth clean and healthy, as well as a few other good things to keep in mind while you celebrate. 

Regulate Sweet Treats
Sugar causes natural bacteria in your mouth to react. This creates acid inside the mouth, which starts to eat away at the protective covering of the tooth enamel. Do your best to not overdo it at the dessert table. All sugar can be bad, but sticky candy like taffy and gummies are the worst because they will cling to your teeth. Eating healthy foods first will help to fill you up so that you eat less of the sweet stuff, and chewing sugar-free gum will help you to avoid eating when you aren't really hungry.   

Don't Forget to Brush
It's very important to stick to your regular oral care routine on a daily basis. Don't let the hustle and bustle of the holidays get in the way of that. No matter how tired you are at the end of the day, don't go to sleep with a mouthful of food stuck in and on your teeth. It only takes about two minutes twice a day to keep those cavities away! 

Travel With Tools
This time of year when the treats are more tempting than usual and you may be away from home more often, it's wise to carry some dental care items with you. The sample sizes found at grocery stores are perfect for traveling and floss or a mini bottle of mouthwash is easy to carry in a purse or pocket. That way, if you eat something particularly sweet and sticky or you know you'll be staying out extremely late, you won't have to wait until you get home to take care of it.

Only Bite What You Should
It can be very tempting to use your teeth to open tough packaging, but DON'T DO IT! You risk cracking or breaking your teeth when you use them this way which can result in an expensive cosmetic repair job! The same goes for other things that are not edible - no opening corks or bottles with your teeth. They're not made for that!

It's not just the non-food items that you should be cautious of. For instance, nuts are meant to be chewed but their shells are NOT meant to be cracked with your teeth. Hard candy like jawbreakers or peanut brittle can be rough on your teeth, especially if those teeth are already worn down. It's a good idea to avoid chewing ice too because this can also be damaging over time.

Avoid Dark Beverages
It's best to stick to light-colored or clear beverages to avoid staining your teeth. Drinking through a straw that takes the liquid past your teeth can help to lessen the effect, but if you're trying to keep your pearly whites actually white, it's a good idea to skip the red wine or cranberry juice.

Drink Lots of Water
The best clear beverage out there is water. Staying hydrated is good for your entire body, but water is particularly good for your teeth because it can wash away some of the food particles and bacteria for you. Also, drinking water will help to keep you feeling full, meaning you might be more likely to turn down that second helping of holiday cookies!

Schedule a Post-Holiday Checkup
Start the new year off on a healthy note by scheduling a regular checkup at our Springfield, Missouri dental office or one of our other 4 locations in Southern Missouri. Not only will this get your teeth back to their cleanest and shiniest, but any problems that may have been caused by all of those extra temptations over the holidays can be caught early. 

As long as you pay attention to the type of things you are putting in your mouth and do your best to stick to a regular oral care routine, we're sure that you can make it through the holidays without damaging that beautiful smile. Our dental offices in Southern Missouri are here to take care of you when problems with your teeth occur, but stick to the tips we've shared with you in today's blog and you should only have to visit Access Dental & Dentures for regular, healthy checkups!

We want to be your dentist because your family deserves a great smile!

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