28 Dec Keep your Teeth Healthy this Holiday Season
The holiday season is upon us and at Hicks Dental Group, we want you to enjoy it! We also want to help you keep your smile looking as beautiful as ever. The following are some relatively easy ways to keep your teeth healthy this holiday season, whether you’re celebrating here in Prescott, or anywhere else in the world!
Eat plenty of veggies
Be sure to balance the decadent treats with lots of vegetables. Leafy greens are a great choice because they contain calcium, which strengthens the tooth enamel. And crunchy carrots will help increase saliva production, which helps reduce your risk of getting cavities.
Avoid excess sugar
We know sugar can’t be avoided completely. But we encourage you to be mindful of how much you are consuming. Your teeth and your waistline will thank you! When you do enjoy a sweet treat, try to eat it with meals or shortly afterwards. Saliva production is highest at this time, which helps neutralize acid and rinse away food particles. And watch out for hard and chewy candies, as these can cause a lot of damage to the teeth.
Don’t use your teeth as a tool
It can be tempting to open presents, bottles, and snack packages with your teeth. But this will cause the enamel to weaken over time and could cause cracking or damage to your teeth.
Stick to your daily oral hygiene routine
It is particularly important to stick to your daily oral hygiene routine over the holidays. You can avoid a lot of time, money, and trouble by remembering to brush twice a day and floss daily.
Drink lots of water
Water has many of benefits for your teeth! It washes away sugar particles and bacteria. It also helps your body produce more saliva. Saliva is your mouth’s best defense against tooth decay.
Nibble on Cheese
Many of the foods and drinks we consume this time of year are highly acidic. Cheese is actually alkaline. So snacking on cheese in between sips and bites of acidic treats can help to cut the acid. This will reduce your risk of tooth decay. It is also high in calcium and phosphate, which will strengthen your teeth.
Chew Cinnamon Gum
Researchers from the University of Illinois have found that cinnamon can kill bacteria in the mouth. So chewing on sugarless cinnamon gum will not only freshen your breath, but it will also keep your mouth healthier! In addition, gum helps remove food particles and harmful bacteria.
Dentist in Prescott
We hope this will serve as a helpful reminder to be mindful of your dental health. We want to help you keep your teeth healthy this holiday season, while still enjoying the festivities. And be sure to call Hicks Dental Group in Prescott today, to schedule a post-holiday dental cleaning!
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (12/28/2018) Pixaby