5 Tooth Tips to Keep Your Smile on the Nice List
The holiday season is a time of joy, togetherness, and, let’s face it, indulgence. From sweet treats to festive cocktails, your teeth go through a lot during this time of year. With all the parties and extra fun happening around the holidays, we understand that letting your oral care slip is easy. So, while brushing and flossing remain the cornerstones of great oral care, we’d love to share a few lesser-known tips and strategies that can help keep your smile bright and healthy over the holidays. Let’s dive into some actionable advice to maintain your dental health without sacrificing the fun.
1. Don’t Use Your Teeth As Tools
We get that sometimes it’s tempting to use your teeth to rip off a tag, tear open a package, or even pull off a stubborn bottle cap, but you have to resist the urge. It might seem like a quick fix to a small problem but using your teeth as a tool can cause chips, cracks, and other damage that are difficult to fix. The extra few seconds it would take to grab a pair of scissors or bottle opener are well worth the effort if it saves you an expensive trip to the dentist!
2. Mind Your Alcohol Choices
Holiday gatherings frequently include alcohol, much of which can be surprisingly harmful to your teeth. Drinks like wine, beer, and cocktails are often acidic, which means they can erode enamel over time. To minimize damage, alternate between alcohol and water, and consider rinsing your mouth with plain water after drinking wine or other acidic beverages. The water helps the pH balance in your mouth return to normal faster, making it more difficult for the acids in your drink to do any serious damage.
3. Snack Smart
Cheese boards aren’t just trendy, they’re tooth-friendly! If you're looking for a snack to hold you over until dinner, reach for the charcuterie board instead of the chips. Munching on some cheese can help neutralize acids in your mouth while also providing calcium and phosphate, which strengthen enamel. Nuts are another great choice, they’re nutritionally dense and their crunchy texture can help scrape away some of the plaque on your teeth.
4. Eat Your Sweets With Your Meal
Did you know it’s better to eat sweets with a meal rather than as a standalone snack? It’s so easy to reach for that Christmas candy all day long but those bursts of sugar are constantly disrupting the pH balance in your mouth, which can be bad for your teeth. During meals, your mouth produces more saliva, which helps neutralize acids and wash away food particles. So, if you’re eyeing that slice of pie, enjoy it as part of your dinner rather than an hour later.
5. Schedule a Post-Holiday Dental Checkup
The holidays can be hectic, and it’s easy to postpone health-related appointments. However, scheduling a dental checkup for January is a great way to address any potential issues early and start the new year with a clean slate. Pun intended. 😉A professional cleaning can remove any plaque or tartar that may have built up over the holiday season and will set you up for better oral care in the new year.
Great oral care comes down to small healthy habits, so don’t underestimate the impact that these 5 adjustments can make. We hope that these tips allow you to fully enjoy your holiday season without any dental issues. We’ll be here waiting to help with your oral health resolutions in the new year! In the meantime, don’t forget to pack your toothbrush and Slate Flosser while traveling! Don’t have a Slate Flosser yet? Click here to head over to our product page.