Effective Ways to Keep Your Teeth Cavity-Free During the Holidays

December 19, 2017by The Dentist

Tis’ the season for eating unhealthy, which also means that your teeth will be doing extra work for the next few months. It is but normal to enjoy feasts and drink merrily during the holiday season but overdoing this may affect your oral health. There is nothing wrong with celebrating but it becomes a problem when dental hygiene is overlooked.

To ensure your teeth remain free of cavities, follow the simple guideline below:

Time your meals appropriately.

Saliva production is most active during mealtime, when your mouth is working to chew and digest the food you are eating. A healthy mouth produces saliva to naturally wash away the acids and bacteria left behind by food particles. Because your mouth is still on work mode, it is best to eat sugary sweets after mealtime. Timing your sugary snacks like this will ensure that they have the best chance of being digested.

Try to avoid sticky snacks.

This can be a very challenging feat, especially since there are loads of gooey, sticky goodness during the holiday season. Sticky snacks tend to be hard to clean off because they cling to the teeth and get inside tiny holes. If you feel the urge to grab some snacks, don’t go for sticky treats. Instead substitute them with sliced fruits, which are much healthier for you.

Don’t drink too much alcohol.

If you can’t completely give up alcoholic drinks during the holidays, try to at least limit your intake. Alcoholic beverages and cocktails are not just fatty, they also contain sugar which is bad for the teeth. Additionally, too much booze can cause dryness of the mouth, which leads to bad breath. As long as you drink in moderation, you won’t have too much to worry about.

Beware of starchy food.

Starchy food like chips, cake and donuts easily get trapped in between teeth. If you already have cavities, this is especially bad for you. If you can’t help sneaking a few bites of starchy snacks, make sure that you do some rigorous flossing afterwards. Leftover particles of starchy food between teeth can turn into plaque, which will eat away the enamel of your teeth.

Stick to your teeth cleaning regimen.

Don’t worry; you don’t really have to give up everything! After all, what kind of holiday would it be without having fun with food? The important thing is that make sure to clean your teeth after each meal. Be a little bit more thorough with cleaning, especially if you have broken the rules and indulged in some sinful treats. Choose ADA-approved toothpaste that’s rich in fluoride. Most importantly, don’t skip flossing as this is the key to getting rid of pesky leftover food that gets stuck between the teeth.

Make this a regular habit.

If you really want to keep your smile healthy and clean, it is important to make this a daily regimen and not just during the holiday season. If you follow a good routine religiously and visit the dentist every six months, your chompers should remain cavity-free!

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