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The winter holidays are filled with opportunities to reconnect with loved ones and enjoy delicious food—just be careful not to forget about oral hygiene! To help you get through this joyful time of year safely, the office of Bethel Family Dentistry in Ohio explain how to avoid cavities and emergency dentist appointments this holiday season.

4 Simple Holiday Oral Hygiene Tips 

1. Be Wary Of Sticky Candy

Do you enjoy chewy candy, such as toffee, caramel, or taffy? If so, take some precaution. The most obvious problem with these sweets is that they cling to teeth stubbornly, inviting tooth decay even faster than usual. But another, more commonly overlooked issue, is their propensity to stick to and remove your fillings. You’ll avoid toothaches, cavities, and loose fillings this year by listening to your local dentist office and eating these sweets sparingly.

2. Use A Nutcracker To Shell Nuts—Not Your Teeth

oral hygieneJust because those toothy wooden men use their teeth doesn’t mean you should: Cracking nutshells with your teeth is extremely dangerous. In addition to cracking your teeth in an ironic twist, nutshells can also split your gums and lead to infection. Protect your smile with proper oral hygiene this holiday season and use nutcrackers to shell nuts.

3. Don’t Substitute Scissors For Your Teeth

It’s bad oral hygiene to cut ribbon, open bottles, or unwrap presents with your teeth. No matter how strong you think your teeth are, unassuming materials like ribbon can get stuck in between or even cut open your gums. To avoid a trip to the emergency dentists, take that extra minute to get the proper tool, whether that means a pair of scissors, bottle opener, or a pocket knife.

4. Avoid Hard Candy

Hard candies can break your teeth. If you do eat candy canes this holiday season, it’s safer to let them dissolve in your mouth. But keep in mind that the longer candy dissolves in your mouth, the higher the chances of getting a cavity. 

The winter holidays aren’t the friendliest toward oral hygiene, but with these tips in mind, you’ll have a safe holiday with your family and friends. To learn about more oral hygiene tips or schedule a dental appointment, call Bethel Family Dentistry at (513) 734-2029, or visit them online.

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