12 Ways to Maintain Healthy Teeth and Gums During the Holidays

During the holiday season, people tend to drink more alcohol and sugary drinks, which can cause tooth decay. Having practices that help keep your teeth clean and healthy is vital. This will help you prevent cavities, bad breath, and other dental problems which are not only embarrassing but also painful.

Here are some 12 dental tips for the holiday to help you get started:

• • Maintain proper hygiene practices

The top dental tip is to maintain proper hygiene. Brushing and flossing are crucial to removing food particles, especially after meals. Furthermore, remember to brush before bed to remove food debris and bacteria that may accumulate in your mouth overnight.

• • Avoid hard candy, and don’t chew on ice cubes

Hard candy or ice cubes can cause your teeth to crack and chip more easily, which makes them more susceptible to decay.

Don’t eat sticky foods like peanut butter cookies or marshmallow treats.

• • Avoid soda and carbonated drinks

One of the best dental tips is to avoid acidic soda and carbonated drinks because they cause tooth erosion, leading to cavities, gum disease, and other health problems. Also, the carbonation in these beverages can cause dry mouth, making you more susceptible to cavities.

• • Eat a little sugar

Sugar is bad for your teeth because it can cause cavities, tooth decay, and bad breath. But that’s not the only thing sugar does to your oral health. It also erodes enamel, which causes tooth erosion and gum disease (gum disease is when you have plaque on your teeth).

• • Do not use whitening toothpaste

While white teeth are attractive, avoid whitening toothpaste because it can be abrasive. They might also damage your enamel and cause further damage to the surface of your teeth. If you want to bleach your teeth, visit a dentist near you for proper teeth whitening.

• • Chew sugarless gum

Sugarless gum can help stimulate saliva flow. Saliva cleanses the mouth, removes food debris and debris between teeth, prevents tooth decay and cavities, fights off bacteria on your teeth, and reduces plaque buildup.

• • Don’t use your teeth to open packages or bottles

This can cause damage to your teeth and create tiny cracks in the enamel that are hard to repair. Also, avoid chewing on pens, pencils, or other objects you find around the house—these can all cause damage to your teeth.

• • Don’t use toothpicks to clean between your teeth

This can cause damage to your gums, and you risk pushing food particles back into your mouth, which could cause an infection. If you have difficulty flossing, try using different types of floss. Also, consult your best dentist in Ancaster, ON, about other options for keeping teeth clean between professional cleanings.

• • Chew on Veggies

Veggies are a great way to keep your teeth clean. Chewing on raw veggies can naturally scrub away plaque and tartar from the teeth. You can also try eating softer foods with smaller particles, such as applesauce or mashed potatoes.

• • Rinse the mouth with a fluoride mouthwash

One significant dental hygiene tip is to rinse your mouth with fluoride mouthwash after eating. Fluoride helps to remove plaque, which can cause tooth decay, by removing the calcium and phosphate from your teeth.

• • Get professional cleaning

Professional cleaning is important because it removes plaque, tartar, and bacteria from your teeth that can cause gum disease or cavities. Your dentist may also examine your teeth and gums for cavities and infections. They may also share a few holiday dental tips that you can use to keep your teeth healthy.

• • Avoid smoking and limit alcohol drinking.

It’s not just the smoke that can damage your teeth but also the chemicals in cigarettes and other tobacco products. Smoking can cause gum disease, a common cause of tooth loss and bad breath. Alcoholic beverages also negatively affect oral health—they can cause tooth decay by causing glucose intolerance and eventually cavities if consumed frequently over an extended period.

Take Care of Your Teeth

Brushing and flossing your teeth is not enough to have healthy teeth and gums during the holidays. Focusing on what you eat, the dental products you use, and lifestyle practices is also crucial. Visit your nearby dental cleaning – Golf Links Dental for tips on caring for your teeth and gums during the holidays.