A brighter, healthier smile is on many holiday wish lists, but unfortunately, some of the festivities that come along with this season can be damaging to patients’ smiles. If you want healthy holiday smiles, keep reading to learn more about how to keep your smile healthy while still enjoying all your favorite holiday treats. Call a trusted dentist if you want to learn more about preventive dentistry services to keep you smiling all year long.
1 – Schedule an End of The Year Dental Checkup
One of the easiest ways to ensure you’re maintaining healthy smiles all year long is to schedule at least two dental checkups every year. If one of your checkups isn’t currently planned during or right after the holidays, talk to your dentist about adjusting your dental checkup schedule next year.
2 – Make the Time for Good Oral Hygiene
We know the holidays are a busy time of the year, but it’s important to take the time you need to clean your smile during the holidays. Make sure you’re brushing for at least two minutes at a time twice a day and flossing daily. You might also want to brush your teeth or use an antimicrobial mouth rinse between meals, especially if your holiday menus contain large amounts of sugary and acidic foods.
3 – Consume Holiday Treats in Moderation
A lot of people sip on an acidic drinks or snack on sweet treats throughout the day. Instead, limit your consumption of these potentially damaging items to meal times or consume them within half an hour. The longer teeth are exposed to the acid attack that occurs while people are eating, the more enamel erosion and potential for decay.
4 – Drink Plenty of Water
Water is essential to maintaining healthy whole body function, so drinking plenty of water will help you stay healthy year round. At the holidays, following up sweets or sugary and acidic drinks with a glass of water is a great way to limit exposure to potentially damaging food acids or plaque buildup. If you don’t have time to brush between every meal or snack, rinsing your mouth out with water will help limit plaque buildup.
Meet Dr. Hendricksen
Dr. Ron Hendricksen and his Goode dental team partner with patients to achieve and maintain their healthiest smiles. If you want us to help you improve your oral health this holiday season, give the caring Hendricksen Cosmetic & family Dentistry team a call to schedule a checkup today. Our Goode dentist and team also offer a wide range of cosmetic dentistry services to transform flawed teeth into camera-ready smiles for all your holiday photos. Don’t hesitate to let us know if you’re interested in a whiter, brighter smile before you ring in the new year.