The holiday season is the time of year for enjoying the best things in life, including rich, sugary foods. But that doesn’t mean you should ignore your oral health.
You can enjoy all the holidays have to offer and take care of your teeth at the same time as long as you follow a few simple guidelines. Here is your holiday guide to keeping your smile cheery and bright.
Moderation is the Key
Eating holiday cookies and special desserts you can only enjoy once a year is fine as long as you do it in moderation. Avoiding overindulgence in sugary foods is not only good for your smile, but also your waistline.
Rather than eating every holiday dessert, pick and choose the ones you truly want to enjoy. Then savor those foods as the special treats they actually are. Not only will you enjoy them more, but you also can avoid the regret and discomfort that often comes with overdoing it.
Holiday Smile Care
Eating sugar plums, candy canes, chocolate kisses, and other sugar-rich sweet treats is practically unavoidable during the holiday season. So go ahead and indulge if that’s what you want. Just make sure you do it in moderation and maintain your normal brushing and flossing habits throughout the holiday season.
Sugar can erode the natural protective coating that lies on the surface of your teeth. So when you eat more sugary foods than you normally would, there is more of a threat that this erosion can lead to tooth decay, cavity formation, and even gum disease.
Brushing after every meal can help remove much of the sugar residue from sweet candies and other holiday treats before it can attack the surface of your teeth. Flossing helps remove any tiny, microscopic food particles that can become wedges in the tight spaces between your teeth, such as candy fragments or chocolate particles.
