Gum drops, candy canes, chocolate chip cookies, eggnog and more – these are some of the delights that have become fixtures during the holiday season. Your emergency dentist in Simpsonville says that while it’s fine to participate in all of the holiday trimmings, there is a safe way to go about it. Read on to learn 5 tips for preventing a holiday dental emergency.
Tip #1 – Avoid Hard Items
Having a cracked or broken tooth can be a painful experience that you want to avoid at all costs. One way to prevent this from happening is to be careful with eating items like candy canes or similar selections.
While the enamel on your teeth is the hardest material in your body, it isn’t infallible. So before chomping down on the surface of a piece of candy, it may be a better idea to find a softer alternative.
Tip #2 – Avoid Excessive Plaque Buildup
If you had to identify a prime enemy of tooth health, the frontrunner would be sugar. When it is consumed, it attracts bacteria that aggregate and form a super-structure called plaque. This can lead to advanced tooth decay and toothache.
Here are some ways to limit your sugar consumption:
- If you eat chocolate, aim for dark chocolate because it usually contains less sugar.
- Set a limit for the number of sweet items you will consume to reduce the amount of sugar that bombards your teeth.
- Chew sugar-free gum after consuming sweet treats to aid in bathing the teeth with saliva.
Tip #3 – Practice Excellent Oral Hygiene
Another contributor to preventing a dental emergency during the holidays is to practice excellent oral hygiene, which should include brushing and flossing your teeth after every meal. If that isn’t possible, then aim to do both at least two times a day.
Tip #4 – Drink Water
Consuming water is not only vital to your overall health and digestion of food, but it also can help protect your teeth from the ills of bacteria. After eating a sugary dessert item, you should consume at least a glass of water to flush your mouth and aid in removing leftover particles that could attract bacteria.
Tip #5 – Visit Your Dentist
When you visit your dentist in Simpsonville for a preventive check-up over the holidays, it leaves you with clean teeth and allows the professional to make sure there are no developing issues that could be exacerbated by over-indulging in holiday treats.
To ensure that you have a safe and happy holiday season, keep these tips in mind and don’t hesitate to reach out to your local dentist to schedule a wellness visit today!
About the Author
Dr. Daryl Halbert has been providing the best in dental care to his patients for over 30 years. Still, the Medical University of South Carolina graduate is driven to help his patients experience excellent oral care through educating and caring for them. Dr. Halbert treats holiday dental emergencies at Tylan Creek Family Dentistry, and he can be reached for more information through his website.