Happy holidays! It’s a time of year when friends and family get together and enjoy themselves, but with all the extra sugar around, it can also increase your risk of getting cavities. In fact, an estimated 27% of American adults have undiagnosed cavities, and eggnog, candy canes and cookies don’t help matters! Fortunately, there are 5 proactive things you can do to enjoy holiday goodies – without needing fillings or other dental work from a family dentist in Dallas GA. After all, there’s a reason that none of the holiday songs mention anything about cavities or fillings!
1. Limit Your Sugar Consumption
This may sound easier said than done, but it can be as simple as nibbling off of a cheese platter instead of a cookie tray. Or only drinking one soda instead of three.
These small choices really add up over time. And not only do they prevent cavities, but minimize holiday weight gain as well.
2. Do a Great Job With Your Oral Hygiene
When there’s so many extra sweets around, having a good oral hygiene routine is crucial. You don’t have to be perfect, but try to be as consistent as possible.
For example, if you find that you’re usually too tired at bedtime to brush and floss, try doing it right after dinner instead when you have more energy.
3. Chew Sugar-Free Gum
No time to brush and floss after snacking on holiday cookies? A convenient “next best thing” is simply chewing sugar-free gum for 20 minutes. It neutralizes the acids that cause cavities and increases salivary flow to wash away plaque and food debris.
4. Be Prepared
Keep a small container of floss at work, in your purse or the glove box of your car. It’s also helpful to keep a travel-sized bottle of anti-cavity (fluoride) mouthwash around. That way, you can strengthen your teeth on-the-go and freshen your breath at the same time.
Finally, be sure to keep low-sugar alternatives (e.g. beef jerky, apples or cheese) at home and work to help you make better choices when you need a snack.
5. Schedule a Checkup
Don’t forget to schedule your family for a cleaning and checkup over the holidays if they’re due. That way, everyone can have a clean, shiny smile for the holidays, and you can make sure there aren’t any cavities that need to be treated.
The holidays are a time for lots of healthy smiles. With these 5 tips, you’ll be able to enjoy yourself and maintain good oral health at the same time!
About the Author
Dr. Clay Cannon is a family dentist in Dallas, GA who loves treating patients of all ages during the holidays. He knows how much easier it is to prevent problems rather than treat them, and always educates his patients on the best way to do that at this time of year. If you have any other questions about your oral health, he can be reached via his website or at (770) 445-6606.
