The holiday season is a time for celebration and reuniting with family and old friends. People across the world travel great distances to see their loved ones, give gifts, reminisce, and make new memories, and foods, drinks, and treats are offered liberally. While this makes for a wonderful time for many, the cakes, cookies, candies, and strong drinks can take their toll on their dental health. Here are a few ways celebrating the holidays can harm your oral health and a few ways to keep your teeth shiny and healthy for the new year.
Don’t Let Your Holiday Be White with Refined Sugar
Many people associate the holidays with snowy weather, but snow isn’t the only white powder you’re going to have to worry about during the fourth quarter. Refined sugar is full of the easily absorbed chemical energy that harmful oral bacteria love, and eating too much of it without proper oral hygiene can lead to infections like tooth decay, gum disease, pneumonia, and others. Unfortunately, Halloween candy, cookies, cakes, pumpkin pie, eggnog, hot chocolate, candy, and soda are all rich in this sweet white stuff that makes your mouth into a bacterial breeding ground.
Red Wine Can Leave Your Teeth Stained or Discolored
Red wine has been served on festive occasions for thousands of years because of its robust, tart flavor, its rich, dark color, and the way it pairs exceedingly well with lamb and beef. While it can make a delightful beverage at a holiday feast, it is also heavy on acids and pigments that can be harmful to your oral health. The acids weaken your enamel on contact, making it easier for pigments to bond with it. This can lead to the teeth taking on a purplish color.
How Can I Protect My Smile During the Holidays?
A few excellent ways to protect your smile at holiday celebrations include:
- Consume sweets and alcoholic beverages in moderation. Too much sugar or alcohol is never good for your health, and both of them can lead to tooth decay.
- Enjoy a glass of water with your treats and drinks. This will help wash harmful chemicals away from your teeth and promote healthy saliva flow.
- Practice excellent oral hygiene: Brush, floss, and use antibacterial mouthwash every day to eliminate plaque and prevent tooth decay.
It’s important to celebrate the holidays when they come around, but it shouldn’t cause harm to your teeth. By taking care of your smile during the holidays, you can make sure you can flash it frequently during the new year.
About the Author
Dr. Evan Pedersen earned his dental doctorate at the prestigious Harvard School of Dental Medicine in Boston. He has worked in the private practice field since 2013. His office in Austin, TX offers preventive, cosmetic, restorative, and emergency dentistry. For more information on taking care of your smile during the holidays, contact the office online or dial (512) 777-0866.