Dental Tips and Tricks For the Holiday Season
With the holiday season upon us there is so much hustle and bustle and we sometimes forget to take care of ourselves and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Here are some tips and tricks to keep your teeth healthy and beautiful during this holiday season.
First, if you have not had a chance to come in for your cleanings and exams this year we highly suggest you do so! It is the best way to prevent and treat cavities, gingivitis, and dental infections. Don’t risk having a toothache during these special times with your family and friends. We have early morning, weeknight and weekend appointments still available to accommodate your busy schedules. We also want you to get the most out of your insurance benefits as the benefits of this year will expire on December 31st.
Sensitive Teeth
Sensitivity to cold and hot is a common occurence amongst many of our patients. We want you to be able to enjoy those chilled holiday beverages, hot cocoa, and warm treats without having sensitive teeth stop you. If you have not had your exam recently we first suggest coming in to have any sensitive teeth evaluated to determine if you have a cavity or dental infection. If your sensitivity is not coming from a cavity we highly recommend a sensitive toothpaste like Sensodyne, Colgate Sensitive, or Pronamel. The key ingredient to alleviate sensitivity is potassium nitrate. Using these toothpastes everyday can help decrease your sensitivity to cold and hot. Here are some of our suggested products:
http://www.colgatesensitive.com/products/sensitive-complete-protection
https://us.sensodyne.com/products/
Whiter Teeth
Many of our patients ask how to whiten and brighten their teeth and what better time to do it then now when you are seeing friends and family and posing for memorable photos! There are many over the counter whitening products that are effective, but not as effective as our in-office products. We offer an affordable, effective whitening product that takes about an hour of your time. Consider treating yourself with the gift of whitening this holiday season! We are running a holiday promotion for our In Office Whitening! Call to find out more information. If you decide to try over the counter products here is our favorite:
Preventing Stains and Yellow Teeth
Whether you decide to whiten your teeth or want to prevent staining and yellowing of your teeth, we recommend these simple tips. Avoid staining foods and drinks if you can. However, during the holiday season it can be difficult to avoid the temptations. The biggest staining foods and drinks are coffee, tea, red wine, cider, berries (cranberry, blueberry), tomato sauce, and curry. We know it can be very difficult to resist these during the holiday season. What we recommend is brushing and flossing after consuming these foods. If you can’t sneak away to brush then drink water and rinse your mouth thoroughly with water. This can help remove the food/drink that sits superficially on your teeth. Chewing sugar free gum will also help saliva production, which naturally washes and keeps your teeth protected. Just remember sugar free!
Don’t Overdo the Sweets and Treats!
As hard as it may be limit the intake of candy and sweet treats. You don’t have to skip holiday treats all together, but try to limit yourself to a single dessert and brush your teeth or rinse your mouth afterwards. You will expose yourself to less sugar with one dessert rather than continually snacking and reduce your risk of tooth decay.
Keep A Routine
Brushing and flossing two times a day is the key to good oral health. Despite the hustle and bustle this time of year it is so important to keep up with this habit. Even better, spice up your routine and buy a new electric toothbrush to keep you interested! Here are some of our favorite products that you won’t regret investing in!
https://oralb.com/en-us/products/genius-6000-electric-toothbrush-with-bluetooth
https://www.usa.philips.com/c-p/HX9392_05/sonicare-diamondclean-sonic-electric-toothbrush
In Case of An Emergency
Despite doing everything properly and carefully a dental emergency could occur for you or one of your family members during the holidays. Don’t suffer in silence! Call our office and we will be happy to help. If you reach our voice message follow the instructions in the message and we will be in touch with you promptly! We are here for you and want you to enjoy the most out of your holiday season.
We wish you all a happy and healthy holiday season!