Top 3 Tips for Enjoying the Holidays Without Harming Your Teeth

You’ve waited all year for this. The holiday season is basically just around the corner, and you are so excited to enjoy every minute of it. However, if you aren’t careful, your celebrations could come to a screeching halt with tooth pain, or you could start the new year off with serious dental decay. How can you keep your teeth in good condition and still have fun this holiday season? Read on to learn some useful tips!

Visit Your Dentist Beforehand

Did you know you may have a cavity already developing and not know it? If you have plans, the last thing you want is a toothache ruining them. Before your schedule becomes overloaded with parties, travel, and other festive activities, take care of your dental checkup and cleaning appointment.

During this visit, your dentist can identify and take care of a problem tooth before it causes you pain. Also, professional cleaning feels great and can give you more peace of mind, because cavities will be less likely to disturb your celebrations.

Stick to Your Oral Hygiene Routine

Whether you plan to travel or you’re hosting family and friends, your normal schedule will likely go out the window during the holidays. However, one essential part of your routine you need to maintain is cleaning your teeth twice every day. Brushing and flossing clear away bits of food and plaque from your teeth. Without these small but powerful habits, you can get painful cavities that interrupt your time with loved ones.

Be Deliberate in Your Food Choices

You can’t have a special occasion without special food, and the winter holidays are full of sweet, yet dangerous treats! Indulging in delicious snacks and goodies is okay in moderation, but eating too much sugar and processed foods welcomes dental trouble. Sugar-filled foods and baked goods fuel cavity-causing bacteria in the mouth, increasing your chances of getting decay during or soon after the holidays.

Be selective about the foods you eat, focusing on ones you really do want. In addition to controlling how much sugar you eat this holiday season, you should try to avoid grazing throughout the day to give your teeth and gums a break.

Ultimately, you don’t have to choose between having fun and protecting your smile. When you follow these tips, you can soak in all the priceless moments and memories the season has to offer with putting your dental health at risk.

About the Author

Following his graduation from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Dr. Jason Aptaker completed a general dentistry residency at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. He has also attended training and continuing education with some of the country’s most prestigious groups for advanced treatment, but he encourages prevention as much as possible. If you would like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Aptaker, you can call his practice, Shore Points General and Implant Dentistry, in Wall Township at 732-223-9199 or visit our Contact Us page here.