The holiday season is here, which means plenty of changes are too. For example, people are out visiting family, decorating their homes, and shopping for end-of-year gifts. More worryingly, though, many holiday foods are now around that could put your smile at risk. As such, you’ll need to be extra careful with your teeth and gums for the next few weeks. To that end, your dentist in Chesterton has some advice for you. Here’s a summary of four dental tips that’ll protect your oral health through the holiday season.
Lay Off the Candy Canes
While they may be traditional, candy canes, peppermints, and other hard candies are bad for teeth. For starters, they’re mostly made of sugar — a well-known cause of cavities and tooth decay. Adding insult to injury, they can also crack your pearly whites if you bite down wrong.
Of course, you don’t need to give up these sweets entirely. Just make sure to eat them sparingly and brush your teeth afterward.
Fill Up on Meat & Veggies
To fight your cravings for treats, consider eating mouth-healthy substitutes instead. In particular, meats and leafy greens will do wonders for your smile.
Just look at a turkey dish, for example. This meat is a holiday staple and has lots of phosphorus and protein that strengthen your jaw and teeth.
On the other hand, holiday meals often include broccoli and carrots. These veggies are loaded with vitamin A, which protects your enamel from decay.
Watch Your Wine Intake
Whether on Christmas or New Year’s Eve, December holidays tend to feature wine. However, you might want to reduce your intake of this “festive” drink.
You see, wine can have nasty effects on teeth. Being highly acidic, it usually wears down tooth enamel. Plus, the red variety has tannins that can stain your smile. There’s also the fact that wine can cause dry mouth and bad breath.
In case you do drink for the holidays, try white wine instead of darker colors. Furthermore, be sure to brush well if you do indulge in reds.
Try not to Graze
Christmas, Hanukkah, and other winter celebrations involve a lot of eating. Unfortunately, extra food or “grazing” can expose your teeth and gums to more plaque. That being the case, you should stick to set eating times this year instead of gorging at all hours. Should you snack, though, at least brush after you do.
You can, in fact, have the best of the holidays without ruining your smile. Just remember to use the tips above from your dentist in Chesterton!
About the Practice
Advanced Dental Concepts is based in Chesterton, IN. As headed by Drs. Hayes and Koveck, our practice offers comprehensive dentistry for all. To that end, we perform many preventive, cosmetic, and restorative treatments, not to mention emergency dental care. Our office is also a certified provider of Invisalign clear aligners and dental sedation services. For more information or to book a visit, you can reach us on our website or by phone at (219)-926-7595.