The holidays are always a great time of year for catching up with family and friends. However, it’s also a time that can be a little unkind to our waistlines and our oral health. There tends to be more alcohol, more rich foods, and a little more indulgence than we typically consume. So, with that in mind, it’s important that we don’t forget about keeping our teeth and gums healthy. Because while it’s easy enough to get rid of our extra holiday kilos, it’s not always so easy to repair damage to our oral hygiene.
Here are some tips you can use to keep your mouth in good shape over the silly season.
Be careful with the wine
If you’re indulging in a bit of wine over the holidays, remember that red wine can easily stain your teeth. Naturally, it’s the holidays, so if you don’t want to avoid red wine altogether, there are some ways to make it a little less damaging.
When drinking red wine, try to drink with food. This helps prevent staining, and it’s even more effective if you have vegetables or cheese while drinking – this helps to balance out the effects.
Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables
Fruits and vegetables aren’t just good for your overall health – they’re also great for your teeth. While we understand that broccoli and carrots might not be your favourite item on the table at a Christmas lunch, they’re natural teeth cleaners and are filled with Vitamin A.
The same goes for fruits. When it comes time for dessert, why not try to incorporate more fruit into your dishes, rather than the normal sugary cakes or pies. Reducing the amount of processed sugar is always good for your oral health, and you can replace it with delicious, natural fruit.
Brush regularly
When you’re busily running from event to event, and with so much on your mind (such as Christmas shopping), it’s easy to get run-down and let your dental hygiene slip. Try to focus on maintaining a healthy brushing schedule. Brushing both morning and night is ideal, and the evening brush is particularly important if you’ve been a little indulgent during the day.
Flossing, rinsing with mouthwash, and all those things you know you should do – keep doing them even though you’re busy. Your teeth will thank you at the end of the silly season!
Try to limit your grazing
With more free time on your hands and more lengthy events to attend, it’s tempting to graze on snacks all day. Try to keep this to a minimum, as eating all day can result in more bacteria building up in your mouth. Stick to regular meals as much as possible.
Top it all off with a dental check-up
If you feel like the silly season has gotten the better of you, there’s no better way to start fresh than with a dental check-up at Bentleigh East Dental Clinic. Dr Raj at Verve Dental is your caring, compassionate dentist, and he certainly won’t judge you for enjoying the holidays a little too much. He will, however, give you a thorough check-up, clean and recommend any further treatment to look after your oral health. For a dentist who cares, contact Verve Dental today.
