Maintaining Dental Hygiene During the Holiday Season

It’s the season for gift-giving, visiting family members and friends, and sharing delicious candy and treats. Your dental health may be the last thing on your mind, but it’s more important now that ever to maintain your oral hygiene. This is because, in addition to the increase in sugary treats you’re consuming, it’s also more common to drink alcohol during the holidays. The acid in alcohol can damage the tooth enamel!

Tips for Maintaining a Healthy Holiday Smile

Below are a few tips on how to maintain your healthy, beautiful smile over the holiday season

• Wine – The acid levels in wine, either red or white, will eat away at the tooth enamel, causing it to weaken and become vulnerable to dental cavities. To avoid further damage from wine, avoid swishing around your mouth and make sure to rinse with water between drinks.
• Sugar – The bacteria that live in the mouth enjoy sugar above anything else! As they feed on the sugar, they create acid, which, as stated above, will weaken the enamel and cause dental cavities. Enjoy the holiday treats, but make sure to brush or at least rinse with water after especially sugary meals.
• Stress – Lastly, stress has also been known to have a negative impact on your teeth. For example, stress can lead to bruxism, which is the nighttime clenching and grinding of the teeth. Here at Firestone Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, we can fit bruxism sufferers with a custom mouthguard to wear to bed. This dental appliance will prevent damage from being done to the teeth through the night.

Healthy teeth should always be at the top of your priority list! Make sure your family is brushing at least twice a day, flossing every day, and receiving a dental cleaning and a checkup every six months.

To make an appointment for your children to receive a holiday dental checkup, please contact Firestone Pediatric Dentistry here in Firestone, Colorado.