It seems like every year, around this time, our kitchens, and, frankly, our lives are flooded with candies, cookies, and indulgent drinks. And for that reason, the fun and festive holiday season can seem downright scary when it comes to maintaining oral health. Keep reading to learn more from our Santa Monica dentists about protecting your smile during the holidays…
Be Aware Of Problem Ingredients
Sometimes it seems impossible to avoid all of the sugary treats that seem ubiquitous during the holidays. Whether it’s candy, cookies, cake, or sweet sips like cocoa, the oral bacteria in your mouth are able to use the sugars and refined carbohydrates that you consume as fuel to flourish. That is why it is so important to be mindful about the sugar you are consuming. Keep in mind also that acidic substances make dental enamel temporarily more porous than usual, so your teeth are at greater risk for about 20 to 30 minutes after acid exposure.
Rinse On A Regular Basis
If you want to make it more difficult for oral bacteria to flourish, try to get into the habit of rinsing your smile with water throughout the day. Thoroughly rinsing your smile clears away oral bacteria and food particles, which may otherwise cause unpleasant odors. Plus, every time that you rinse your mouth, you encourage healthy saliva production, which further neutralizes oral bacteria.
Indulge Thoughtfully
As you might imagine, continuously indulging in sugary and acidic holiday treats is pretty bad for your smile. Now is the time to boost your oral health by planning a specific time of day during which you will consume sugary and acidic substances. By being thoughtful and strategic about your consumption, and limiting it to one portion of the day, you decrease the number of hours available for oral bacteria to feed on the sugars in your mouth.
As always our Santa Monica dentist is here to answer all of your questions, and to help you schedule a personal consultation. The best way to get in touch is to give us a call or use the Contact Us page on our website!