4 Tips to Protect Your Teeth During the Holidays

‘Tis the season for lots of sweet treats. From company holiday parties to cookie swaps with friends and family, there’s a lot to savor during this time of year. That might be great news for your social calendar and your taste buds, but it’s less than ideal for your oral health. 

That’s because sugar takes a serious toll on your teeth. When it lingers, it feeds the bacteria that causes tooth decay. In other words, the more sweets you eat during the holiday season, the bigger your risk for cavities. 

Dr. Sujay Trivedi and Dr. Michael Westcott want to help. For starters, consider scheduling a teeth cleaning here at Family Dental Care in West Palm Beach, Florida. We can remove any tartar (hardened plaque) that develops over the holiday season, keeping your teeth healthy. 

Additionally, we have a few extra tips:

1. Brush often

Generally, oral health experts including the American Dental Association, Dr. Westcott, and Dr. Trivedi advise you to brush your teeth twice a day. But during this time of year, you might actually want to deploy your toothbrush more frequently.

If you’re going to a holiday event with lots of sweet treats, consider packing a travel toothbrush. The sooner you can clear that sugar off your teeth, the lower the likelihood that it will cause tooth decay. 

Ideally, wait about 30 minutes after you eat before you brush; if that’s not feasible, swish with water first so you’re not simply brushing sugar across — or into — your enamel. 

2. Floss daily

You’ve probably heard that you should floss daily, but most people don’t. A national survey revealed that only 30% of people floss every day. An even larger share of the population — 32% — said they never floss. 

Even if you’re not always consistent with this oral health habit, it’s an important time of year to be consistent. Floss gets between your teeth where sugars can hide out of reach from your toothbrush. 

If you struggle to find time to floss, try keeping your floss in the shower. It should only take a minute or less, and it’s a natural addition to your personal hygiene routine. 

3. Don’t use your teeth as tools

Nutcrackers might be a nice bit of holiday decor, but they’re also useful. Turn to them rather than your teeth to crack nuts. And as far as opening any holiday gifts goes, use scissors, not your teeth. If you use your teeth as tools, you could end up with a cracked or chipped tooth and an emergency trip to the dentist. 

4. Minimize chewy sweets

While caramel and nougat might be hallmarks of the season, they’re particularly dangerous for your oral health. Their sticky, chewy nature makes it easy for them to stick to your enamel. 

Enjoying a little through the holiday season is perfectly fine, especially if one of your favorites falls into this category. But as a general rule, it’s best to minimize chewy sweets when you can. 

These tips can all help to minimize risk to your teeth through the holiday season, and a teeth cleaning early in the new year can help to remove any lingering plaque or stubborn tartar that does develop. To schedule yours, call our Family Dental Care team at 561-556-1698 today, or use our online booking tool at your convenience.