Keep your smile dazzling and healthy throughout the holiday season. The oral surgeons at Oral Surgery Associates of Alaska emphasize the importance of being diligent with your dental health year-round, but give special attention to the time of year when candy, cookies, and other sweet treats abound. 

Review some of the renowned oral surgeons’ best tips for maintaining good dental health no matter how many holiday parties you attend:

• Drink Water: Keep a glass or a bottle of water handy during holiday gatherings. Take a sip every time you eat something sweet or starchy or drink alcohol. Water washes away food particles and liquids that form decay-causing acids.

• Avoid Chewy Treats: Just say “no” to chewy candy and similar treats. Sticky candies cling to teeth and promote tooth decay. Eating too many chewy treats also increases your risk of pulling out fillings.

• Use Teeth For Chewing Only: Do not use your teeth to open gifts or bottles. Using your teeth as “tools” risks cracking or chipping them. Cracked or chipped teeth could mean emergency dental visits for emergency root canals or crowns.

• Enjoy Teeth-Cleaning Foods: Load your party plate with foods that promote clean, healthy teeth, such as apple slices, carrot sticks, and celery. These and other crunchy foods help remove decay-promoting plaque.

• Do Not Crack Nuts: Avoid using your teeth to crack nuts. Gift baskets of nuts are a holiday staple, but it’s best to shell the nuts before you consume them. Breaking shells with your teeth can crack your pearly whites and cause other tooth and gum damage.

Discuss these and other holiday dental tips with the oral surgeons at Oral Surgery Associates of Alaska. Rely on the premier oral surgery facility for all your restorative and cosmetic dental care needs. The oral surgeons use the latest techniques and tools for wisdom teeth removal, jaw surgery, and more.

Schedule an appointment or learn more about restorative and cosmetic dental care from Oral Surgery Associates of Alaska by calling (907) 561-1430 or visiting the website today. Like the oral surgeons on Facebook for more tips.