The holiday season – the season to be jolly!
This festive season is often filled with parties and other social gatherings. While these festivities are a lot of fun, they can also lead to eating too many sweets and unhealthy snacks. But, taking care of your oral health during the holidays is important.
Here are 5 tips to keep your teeth healthy this Christmas:
Drink lots of Water
People often feel hungry when they’re dehydrated. Get alternate alcoholic and sweet drinks at holiday events with water to stay hydrated which helps in washing the sugar off your teeth. If you don’t like to drink plain water, garnish your glass with a lemon wedge or mint sprig.
Avoid Sticky Foods
Sticky foods tend to remain on your teeth longer than other kinds of food, leading to a greater amount of damage. When you’re in the mood for something sweet, skip the dried fruit, trail mix, and gummy candy and reach for a little piece of dark chocolate.
Limit Your Sweets
There is nothing wrong with having a couple of cookies at a party as long as they aren’t the only thing that you eat. Load your plate with healthy, filling food, such as fresh fruit and vegetables and crackers and cheese, and then choose a couple of desserts.
Drink Cold drinks and other Sweet Beverages with a Straw (paper, glass or metal straw…)
The more sugar makes direct contact with your teeth, the more damage it does. The sugar in a can of soda is much less harmful for your teeth while you drink it with a straw.
Keep a Toothbrush and Toothpaste on Hand
During the craziness of the holidays, you may not always have a chance to go home between different parties or between work and a family gathering. Packing a toothbrush and toothpaste ensures that you’ll be able to keep your teeth clean while on the go. Or try some sugar-free gum as well.
Have a look here for cool, healthy snack ideas for Christmas: https://brendid.com/healthy-christmas-treats-for-kids/
It is always good to have a dental check-up and clean before the holidays, why not swing by at Corne Smith Dentistry, Cape Town, Claremont to get your oral health done and dusted.