At Restorative & Implant Dentistry, we want to do all we can to make sure your smile stays healthy. So we’re sharing ways to protect and preserve your teeth and gums so you can have yourself a healthy little Christmas!

Two Holiday Guests You Don’t Want To See!

Tooth decay and gum disease are the kind of holiday guests that can wear out their welcome in your life. Similar to relatives who arrive unannounced at Christmastime, these two dental problems can arrive to spoil your holidays, and you won’t know it until they’re banging on the door to your oral health.
And why are gum disease and cavities such a problem this time of year? The extra sugar we take in at Christmastime can threaten the health of your teeth and gums.

Avoid The Oral Health Holiday Hazards!

You don’t have to fall into the holiday trap of dental disasters this year if you can avoid some of these common hazards to healthy teeth and gums.
Stay True To Your Teeth!
Everyone’s routine is out of whack during the holidays. You might be traveling so you can stay with distant relatives. Or maybe you’re staying home but are on a holiday break. Even more, you might have kids who are home from school for Christmas break.
All of these are pretty common schedule shakers this time of year, which can make it harder to stick to your oral hygiene routine. Keep your commitment to best practices in dental care by planting reminders for yourself to brush and floss everyday.
Clean Your Mouth Between Brushing!
So, you’re dedicated to maintaining your normal brushing and flossing despite the fact that your normal routine is a bit off during the holidays. But you can also keep your teeth clean throughout the day when giving in to your sweet tooth this season.
Drinking plenty of water this time of year will keep your saliva flowing. This protects your tooth enamel from harmful acids that bacteria creates when it feeds on sugar. Also, you can rinse your mouth with water after eating, and then wait somewhere between a half hour to an hour before you brush your teeth again.
Beware Of Harmful Holiday Treats!
It’s okay to give yourself permission to indulge in sweets during the holidays. Christmas is a wonderland of homemade cookies, cakes, and candies, so enjoy!
But just remember that not all candy and desserts are treated equal when it comes to the state of your oral health. Some sugary treats should be avoided for a couple of reasons.
Candy canes can do a number on your teeth. First, they’re packed with sugar. Second, unless you want to suck on them until they’re gone, they can pose a threat to your teeth. Biting and crunching on hard candy of any kind can wear down your teeth or even injure them if you’re not careful.
Likewise, you should stay away from toffee, caramel, and marshmallows. Although these gooey gobs of sticky sweetness make delicious toppings for many holiday desserts, they’re really hard to clean away from your teeth. Any sticky substance will outstay its welcome in the dark, tight places between your teeth, which will increase your chances of cavities and gum disease.
Use Tools To Open Packages, Not Teeth!
It’s easy to get lost in all the excitement of unwrapping gifts. After all, it’s one of the things we look forward to most about this time of year, especially when it comes to watching the kids tear into those packages.
If you’re not paying attention, you might fall prey to the temptation of using your teeth to do the work that your hands can’t when it comes to opening presents. With plastic ties and other hard objects that hold store-bought items in place in their boxes can hurt your teeth.
When you bring something up to your mouth to tear it open, the saliva can cause you to slip and damage your gums or your tooth enamel. But you can avoid that by keeping scissors and other small tools handy so you won’t put your pearly whites at risk!
Get A Dental Checkup After The Holidays!
Dr. Slootsky and Dr. Baez are both highly-trained at spotting potential dental disasters before they prevent you from having the beautiful, healthy smile you deserve.
When you come to our Pompano Beach, FL dental office for routine checkups, we can keep you on track for a healthy mouth in 2018.
Call Restorative & Implant Dentistry today at 954-590-0538 or fill out our online form to schedule an appointment.