Eat These Teeth-Healthy Foods:
The holidays provide several
opportunities to reconnect with friends, interact, and, of course, snack and
munch.
Give yourself permission to
splurge a little and indulge in some luxury that won't come around again for
another 12 months. However, be sure to counteract this with crisp fruits and
vegetables (carrots are a particularly good choice), full grains and lots of
water. Your teeth as well as your pocketbook, will thank you!
Avoid These Dental
No-No Foods:
Sticky, hard, chewy, gummy or
sweet foods are delicious, but they are not good for your teeth and gums. Candy
canes, soft mint chews, ice cubes, chestnuts, and other traditional Christmas
goodies are all included.
It might be difficult to say no
to these once-a-year delicacies. However, envisioning a costly dental filling fee instead of a
candy cane (or whatever off-limits object is in your sights) can serve as a
helpful deterrent while you search for a safer option.
Stick To Your Daily
Oral Health Routine:
Set an aim to follow your daily
oral health regimen as closely as possible. Twice-daily flossing, brushing, and
gargling may not be the most enjoyable part of your holiday schedule, but they
are like a vacation to Disney World for your teeth and gums, as well as a
get-out-of-the-dentist-chair
pass.
You may look forward to a clean
bill of dental
health in the New Year with just a little more planning and work now.
Schedule Your
Post-Holiday Checkup & Cleaning Now:
If this isn't your first Christmas
season, you're probably well aware of how busy you'll be. You're undoubtedly
also aware that, despite your best intentions and promises, there will be times
when you don't floss, brush, gargle, or do any of the other things you know you
should to keep your teeth and gums healthy.
That's OK. The good news is that
you can book your post-holiday cleaning and checkup right now, so that once the
holidays are over, you can start helping your teeth stay clean, bright, and
cavity-free right away in the New Year.
Drink Plenty of Water
Daily:
Water has several advantages,
particularly around the holidays when you will be out and about more than usual
and want to look and feel your best. Water, for example, helps keep your skin
appearing young, moisturised and free of blemishes.
Water may help with digestion and
excretion as well as freshening your breath. Water may help keep you hydrated
so you don't have to keep adding "go on a diet" to your list of New
Year's Resolutions. Water, on the other hand has the ability to clear away
newly produced germs, ensuring that you don't wake up with a painful tooth and
an emergency trip to the dentist.
Never Use Your Teeth As
Present-Openers:
Teeth are useful for a variety of
tasks, including eating and enunciating. They do not, however, make good tools.
Using your teeth to open bottles, packages, snack bags and other similar items
is a recipe for disaster.
