With the holiday season rapidly approaching, there are ample opportunities to load up on your favorite treats—and cavities in the process. Although you may be tempted to indulge in an abundance of holiday favorites, staying disciplined in your eating habits and oral health routine is essential to maintaining a radiant smile well into the new year.
Here are a few ways to protect your smile while enjoying the holiday season.
Limit The Sweets
Pie, cakes, hot chocolate, pumpkin spice lattes, and peppermint frappes are some of the hallmarks of the holiday season, but having these excess treats can negatively impact oral health. While the holiday season brings out festive treats, having them in moderation is crucial to maintaining your smile. Sugary foods can change the acidity in your mouth and produce bacteria that eat away at your tooth enamel. The combination of over-indulgence in sugary food, changes in acidity, and increases in bacteria can lead to cavities if you don’t keep a close eye on your holiday eating.
Take care of your smile this holiday season, and keep the consumption of sweets in check.
Maintain Good Brushing Habits
As you work to monitor your sugar intake, make sure to maintain proper brushing habits. Most oral health experts recommend brushing and flossing twice daily to help keep plaque, harmful bacteria, and bad breath out of the picture.
Get Plenty of Fruits and Vegetables
While fruits and vegetables should be at the center of everyone’s diet, they can sometimes fall to the wayside during the holiday season. But eating hard fruits and veggies can have significant benefits for your teeth. For instance, carrots are high in keratin, which research suggests is a powerful plaque-fighting agent. Carrots are also an abundant source of Vitamin A which can help strengthen your tooth enamel.
Schedule Your Dental Check Up
While going to the dentist may not be at the top of everyone’s holiday wishlist, it’s still crucial to do so. Scheduling an appointment with your dentist for a routine cleaning can help address problems before they start and can give your teeth the boost they need before the holiday festivities start.
To learn more about how we can help you keep your smile in great shape this holiday season, please contact our Salt Lake office. Schedule a consultation by calling us today at (801) 355-5385.