The holiday season is the perfect time to indulge in your favorite sweet treats like pumpkin pie or sugar cookies. However, if you do not take care of your oral health while consuming all of those desserts, cavities can sneak up on you. There are a few things that you can do for cavity prevention so you can enjoy a pain-free holiday!
When you eat
After you enjoy your big Thanksgiving or Christmas meal, it is important to eat sweets shortly after (if you choose to eat them at all). This is because the saliva produced during your meal helps to cancel out the acids from your bacteria in your mouth. Food particles left in the mouth, especially from sweet food, will create cavities. Timing is something that many people do not think about, but it can save your teeth!
Brush, brush, brush
As you have been told since you were young, brushing your teeth after sweets is a must! If you have consumed desserts, you should brush your teeth shortly after to wash away the sugar and bacteria. If you find yourself at a holiday party and are not able to brush, chew sugar-free gum to remove the sugar on your teeth. Tooth cleaning is very important especially after consuming sugar.
Avoid certain sweets
Although your favorite holiday treat or sugary drink may not be avoidable, try to stay away from hard candies and sticky sweets. Sweets like candy canes, caramels and peppermints are dangerous when trying to steer clear of cavities. These treats increase your chances of getting a cavity and are very poor for your oral health.
Sugary Drinks
The cold, winter holidays may have you reaching for apple cider or eggnog. However, to prevent cavities, limit your alcohol intake. Alcohol can dry out your mouth – so when drinking sugary drinks, make sure to pair them with a glass of water. Drinking water alongside your holiday cocktails will help to wash out the sugar and bacteria while hydrating your mouth.
The best thing that you can do for your oral health this holiday season is to visit your dentist. Tooth cleaning is very important to your overall health and can prevent cavities from your sweet treats. Before you indulge in your favorite holiday dessert, contact Gulf Coast Dental.
