The winter holidays are full of festive events, parties with many dishes of seasonal food, sweets, and drinks. A packed schedule, increased stress levels, and multiple changes in daily activities are factors that can lead to neglecting basic oral health habits.
To maintain healthy oral hygiene and avoid unwanted dental problems, consider these oral health tips during the winter holidays.
- Consume foods with a high sugar content in moderation
- Limit your consumption of acidic drinks.
- Avoid sweet snacks
- Rinse your mouth with water or chew sugar-free gum after meals
- Stick to your daily oral routine
- Avoid stressful situations, if possible
- Do not postpone scheduled dental treatments during this period
2. Avoid sugary foods in moderation
Sugars found in many festive dishes and sweets can increase the likelihood of developing cavities. Eat sweets at one of your meals or shortly after. Increased saliva
Products consumed during meals can help wash away food particles and acids accumulated by bacteria.
However, you don't have to give up on winter holiday sweets and desserts. Eat just one dessert and then brush your teeth. You will expose your teeth to less sugar if you eat only one type of sweet than if you eat them constantly, like snacks, and this reduces the risk of dental cavities.
2. Limit your consumption of acidic drinks
Acidic drinks can attack and erode tooth enamel. These drinks include sparkling wines, beer, spirits, soft drinks, energy drinks, juices… and many more. Postpone
Brush your teeth for at least 30 minutes after consuming acidic drinks.
3. Avoid sticky and hard sweet snacks
Frequent consumption of sweets increases the risk of tooth decay. In particular, avoid sticky and hard sweets, such as lollipops and chewy sweets, which tend to stay in the mouth for longer, increasing the risk of tooth decay.
Sweets can stick to your teeth and dislodge fillings, while hard sweets can break weak teeth. To avoid unwanted dental problems, limit your consumption of these sticky and hard sweets.
4. Rinse your mouth with water or chew sugar-free gum after meals
After meals, sugar and food debris can remain around your teeth. Rinse your mouth with water after meals, snacks, and acidic drinks – this will increase saliva flow and wash away sugars and acids from your mouth.
5. Stick to your daily oral routine
The winter holidays can disrupt your daily oral routine with events, travel, and late nights. In any case, you should brush your teeth twice a day and floss once a day. Even if it's a holiday, don't forget your toothbrush!
Avoid stressful situations, if possible
The winter holidays and preparation for this season can keep you busy with long „to-do” lists and time spent visiting friends and family. Stress can cause some people to bite their nails or grind their teeth, potentially leading to tooth wear or fractures. Speak to your dentist if you think you have the habit of biting or grinding your teeth.
Stress also has a significant negative impact on the immune system, and through this, the risk of developing dental infections and abscesses increases. Find ways to relax and de-stress overall. Try relaxation techniques, stay active, exercise regularly, and get plenty of sleep.
7. Do not postpone scheduled dental treatments during this period
Delaying a visit until after the New Year to fix a broken tooth or replace a lost filling could make the problem worse. If you are travelling, contact a local dental practice to schedule an appointment if you need emergency assistance.
These tips can help you keep your teeth white and healthy during the winter holidays and ensure you have a radiant smile in photos.
The Chiromax team wishes you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, with excellent dental health and a bright, healthy smile.
Bibliography
http://healthybitedental.org.au/oral-health-tips-holiday-season/
https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/features/holiday-smile