The temperature dropping, festive decorations and parties everywhere can only mean one thing – Christmas is here! While everyone knows that this is the most wonderful time of the year, there are also some downsides to feasting too hard. Aside from the risk of gaining extra pounds, your oral health may also be affected if you start slacking off on dental hygiene.
We know it’s the busiest time of the year and while your schedule might be full, never neglect your oral health. Doing so can cause tooth decay, which leads to cavities, infections and gum disease. Protect your family’s oral health by ensuring that encourage everyone to be well informed about the importance of a strict dental hygiene routine.
Here are some great tips to help you and your family stay on track during the holiday season:
1. Put smile-friendly treats in your stockings.
Did you know that chocolates are actually a lot more smile-friendly than most typical candies? Because it melts quicker compared to hard candies and sticky sweets , chocolates can be washed off and cleaned easier. You can substitute your usual candy stocking stuffers with bite-sized chocolates. Additionally, put in surprise dental treats like new sets of tooth brushes, floss and ADA-approved toothpaste. This should remind your kids to always keep dental hygiene in check.
2. Listen to carol songs while brushing.
Put a fun twist to brushing time by listening to carol songs while brushing. Dentists recommend that brushing teeth should be two minutes long, so create a Christmas playlist with two-minute long songs and play them when brushing time comes. This fun little activity combines celebrating the season’s joy with an important dental hygiene regimen, so it’s a win-win!
3. Don’t use teeth for opening bottles or gifts.
While it may look cool that you can open a beer bottle with your teeth, this is not healthy for your teeth. You will run the risk of breaking the enamel or chipping a tooth, which is not really a pretty sight. Resist the urge of showing off during a holiday party and just stick to the traditional bottle openers like a normal person. Additionally, don’t use your teeth to unwrap ribbons and wrappers. Remember, your teeth are meant to be used to chew food and not as a utility tool.
4. Incorporate dental items in your gifts.
Mix in some special gifts under the Christmas tree that will be helpful to your family’s dental health. How about an electric toothbrush or a gift certificate for teeth whitening? This will be a fun a little surprise for them.
5. Quick fix for yellow teeth.
To make sure your teeth look white and healthy in the photos, choose a lipstick shade that’s either red or pink. The darker the shade is, the more your teeth will pop out and look a little bit whiter. Of course, nothing is more effective than professional whitening but if you don’t have the budget or time, this will be a quick fix to the issue.
