Many people use Christmas as a perfect excuse to have mouth-watering dishes without paying much attention to how this can affect the health of their smiles. If you want to enjoy the holiday celebrations without dealing with any dental emergencies, follow these tips that your family dentist in Clyde, NC, has in store.
How to Protect Your Smile During Christmas
Learn the Proper Tooth Brushing Technique
Like crime, tooth decay never sleeps, so learning how to brush your teeth is vital. As enjoyable as candy canes and other sweet Christmas treats are, they contain substances that remain in your teeth and erode tooth enamel. If this protective coat starts to wear off, your teeth get exposed to bacteria, giving you gum disease and other dental problems.
To tackle this issue, get a soft-bristle toothbrush and tilt it at a 45-degree angle to eliminate any food hiding behind and between your teeth. Brush at least twice a day for two or more minutes, especially after you’ve had sugary, acidic, or sticky Christmas meals, such as:
- Gingerbread cookies
- Eggnog
- Glazed ham
- Cranberry sauce
Don’t Use Your Teeth as Tools
You might feel tempted to open bottles or packages with your teeth during your Christmas party, but it might cause a dental emergency instead of saving you time. Using teeth as tools harms your enamel and increases your chances of getting cracks and fractures. Always have openers at hand and save your teeth for the delicious Christmas dishes over your dinner table.
Use a Straw
Many good Christmas party hosts offer creative drinks to their guests. Delicious concoctions are a great way to create fun memories, but they might be abrasive for your teeth. If you want to keep cavities away during the holidays, using a straw will prevent beverages from coming into contact with your smile, keeping it away from damage.
Add a Cheeseboard to Your Christmas Menu
When your dinner table has many delicious but unhealthy meals over it, adding a cheeseboard can be game-changing for your dental health. Cheese contains phosphate and calcium, which strengthen your teeth and jawbone.
This product also stimulates the production of saliva, which helps wash away bacteria and food pieces and makes you less prone to tooth decay. Choose soft cheeses, like brie or camembert, cut them, or use them as an ingredient in your Christmas recipes.
These are some other foods that can protect your teeth:
- Yogurt
- Carrots
- Celery
- Apples
Remember Your Emergency Dental Contact
Sometimes, you can do everything right and still have a dental emergency on your hands. If one of your teeth cracks, fractures, or causes pain, make sure to have the number of your emergency family dentist at hand, tell them your symptoms, and see if you need to visit them right away or if the appointment can wait.
Visit Your Dentist Afterwards
Once the party is over, and you’ve spent quality time with your loved ones, schedule a visit to your family dentist. They can look for damage or early signs of dental problems and give you a cleaning to remove plaque and tartar resulting from your Christmas dinner.
Looking for a Family Dentist in Clyde, NC?
If you follow some tips, your teeth will remain healthy and clean during and after your Christmas celebration. Contact our team today to get your smile in tip-top shape!
