Holidays are fun and festive, but they are also often hard on your teeth. They are filled with temptations like sugary treats, and oral hygiene routines can suffer with travel and other activities. Fortunately, it’s not too tough to protect your oral health at this time of the year. 

Whether it’s an exam or an emergency, if you need to schedule an appointment in our Cumming, GA office, call Inspiring Smiles now at 770-844-6771. In the meantime, check out our advice for maintaining a great smile:

  • Control Your Sugar Intake – We know there are plenty of sugary treats around, like cookies and candy. It’s OK to treat yourself – at least a little. But it’s a good idea to limit your sugar when and where you can. For example, skip sugar in your tea or coffee. Eat your sweet potatoes without the marshmallow topping. And choose pumpkin for your pie, since it contains less sugar than most other varieties. 
  • Splurge on Chocolate – When you do have candy, chocolate is a good option. That’s because it melts readily in your mouth and washes away from teeth. In contrast, treats like candy canes cling stubbornly to tooth enamel. So they are more likely to cause cavities. Plus, you risk damaging teeth crunching down on canes or other hard candies. 
  • Drink Plenty of Water – Since water doesn’t contain any smile-damaging sugars or acids, it’s the best choice for a beverage. It also helps rinse away harmful substances. If you can’t brush after consuming a big meal or sugary treats, rinse your mouth with water.
  • Don’t Forget Oral Hygiene When Traveling – Travel disrupts routines, including oral hygiene. Don’t forget your daily brushing and flossing. Keep supplies on your person, so you can still easily clean your teeth if you are unexpectedly delayed on the way to your destination. If brushing isn’t possible, suck on sugarless candy or chew sugarless gum. It will spur saliva flow, which helps keep your teeth clean.
  • Be Careful How You Use Your Teeth – It’s not uncommon for folks to use their teeth as tools during the holidays, to tear open packaging, remove tags, and even crack open nuts. Doing so is a very bad idea, as it can seriously damage your smile. Don’t use your teeth in place of scissors or a similar tool. And don’t chew on ice, popcorn kernels, or any other hard substances.

Want to schedule an exam or cleaning after the holidays are over? Or feel like starting off the New Year by making some smile improvements? Call us today at 770-844-6771.