Over the holiday season, most families are enjoying more treats and sweets than normal. From Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day, you and your children may be enjoying chocolates, sugary drinks, candy canes and other indulgences. If you want to [link id=’47’ text=’prevent dental cavities’] as a result, consider these holiday oral health tips:
- Avoid chewy, sticky candies, which can get stuck on and in between your teeth.
- Avoid chewing on hard candies that can break your teeth.
- Incorporate sugary sweets into a larger meal to neutralize the cavity causing effects of sugar.
- Rinse your mouth out with water after snacking, or after drinking soda or wine.
- Don’t neglect your oral hygiene routine of brushing twice a day and flossing once a day.
With holiday candy, chocolate and other treats, the important thing is to not let the sugar remain on your teeth. Sugar causes cavities because the bacteria in your mouth convert the sugar into acid, and the acid eats away at your tooth enamel. If you can reduce the sugar on your enamel – either by brushing your teeth or rinsing your mouth out with water – then you can reduce the risk of cavities forming.
To keep your entire family’s teeth and gums in good health, please [link id=’50003′ text=’contact Pamela Marzban, DDS’], to schedule an appointment with our experienced dentist near Fairfax.
