There’s nothing like the company of good friends and family over the winter holidays, with lots of favorite foods and drinks on the menu to enjoy. If you managed to get through the festivities without dealing with holiday hazards like decorating injuries, slips and falls, and driving accidents, you no doubt had a great time.
But were you thinking about your dental health? The plethora of decadent dishes and desserts certainly had an impact on your teeth, and the best gift you can give them in the new year is improving dental hygiene. We can offer excellent tips for keeping teeth and gums healthy.
Let’s examine which foods and drinks are most likely to cause damage, the conditions that result from them, and what can be done to treat and prevent the dental problems they cause. Dr. Kyle Kern helps the residents of Newberg, Oregon, with a range of methods for caring for teeth, from preventive options to managing oral diseases.
Caring for your oral health should be a priority at all times, but the holidays present an increased risk from consuming many foods that erode teeth. Family and friend gatherings are littered with pies, cookies, cakes, and side dishes that are high in sugar (which becomes acidic when it reaches your teeth) and can lead to other problems if left untreated.
Estimates from a recent survey indicate a whopping 82% of Americans ate sweet treats at least once a week during the holiday season, from Thanksgiving to Christmas to New Year’s.
Several oral conditions arise from eating so many sweets, including:
To start the year off right for your teeth, remember these crucial hints:
We all love sweets, and sugar helps fuel the cells in our bodies, but it always causes problems for our teeth. It’s in so many foods, it’s nearly impossible to avoid, so be mindful of the danger it presents to oral health.
One way to reduce the damage many foods and drinks can cause is to limit how much you have.
Brushing twice, before breakfast and just before bed, helps a great deal to keep teeth clean. Don’t forget to do it for at least two minutes. And flossing at least once daily is essential for removing food and particles that get trapped between teeth.
Whatever brand of toothpaste you use, it must contain fluoride to strengthen and protect your teeth.
To keep your teeth healthy, routine dental visits are vital for understanding their current state and the potential problems you may face down the road.
Include improving your oral health in your resolutions for this year, and contact Dr. Kern and his team to get all the facts and treatment options to keep teeth healthy.
