It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year…
Tips to Protect Your Holiday Smile
Christmas is right around the corner! This time of year calls for parties, and food choices at holiday parties can be overwhelming. Too much of a good thing is never truer than during the holidays. Let’s be honest. Who doesn’t want to enjoy the tasty treats that come with the most wonderful time of the year? It is completely impractical to suggest complete avoidance of holiday goodies, so enjoy in moderation to make sure you receive the gift of good oral health!
Keep your pearly whites intact during the (sweet) holiday season. Here are 4 tips to help your teeth, gums, and mouth end the season as healthy as when they started.
1.Stick with Your Oral Health Routine
When normal schedules are out the window and families are in holiday mode, presents are waiting to be shaken and opened, and treats are waiting to be eaten, it’s easy to fall out of your normal oral health care routine. But it will do your mouth good to maintain good dental hygiene habits during this busy time of the year!
2.Snack Smart and Continue to Eat Healthy Foods
It’s unlikely that you’ll be the perfect eater this holiday season, but you can enjoy your holiday season and be smart about what you eat! Snack smart! Choosing foods that are healthy for you will help you feel better, and eating healthy food can help you keep that healthy smile.
3.Take Note of How Many Sugary Foods You are Eating
Constant snacking, drinking and eating of sugary foods and drinks over Christmas can make the holiday period a miserable time for teeth. Cookies, candy and sweet holiday beverages offer more than warm, holiday cheer. They all have at least one main ingredient in common: sugar, and sugar’s negative effect on teeth has been well-documented. When you do indulge your holiday sweet tooth, it’s best to enjoy goodies as part of, or immediately following a meal, rather than snacking on treats throughout the day. Another good tip to is to stick to one small serving of your favorite drink or snack and to follow up by swishing around some water, chew sugar-free gum, or brush soon after finishing to wash away some of the sticky sugar residue.
4.Enjoy Holiday Sweets and Treats in Moderation
Moderation is the key to maintaining good oral health during the holidays. Enjoy all that the holidays have to offer, but keep in mind how much sugary foods you eat and drink. After all, it is not how much of these treats that you eat, it is how often you eat them that creates a threat to your oral health.
From all of us here at McGann Facial Design, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!