From sweet treats to red wine, the holidays can be hard on teeth. The hectic season also leaves many people a little absent-minded when it comes to their oral hygiene routines. Luckily, no matter how sugary or indulgent your celebrations get, you can protect your family’s teeth and gums by following these dentist-recommended tips.

How to Protect Your Family’s Oral Health This Holiday Season

1. Avoid Hard or Chewy Treats

When saying yes to treats or placing them in your child’s stocking, avoid anything too hard or too chewy. Hard candies such as peanut brittle can cause a tooth to break, while chewy treats like caramel and gummy candies may stick to the teeth and damage the enamel. Meanwhile, the abundance of sugar leaves a residue that can lead to tooth decay.

2. Prioritize Your Oral Hygiene 

While it’s wise to brush your teeth after eating, many people understandably get distracted during the holidays, especially when they’re away from home. In those cases, rinse with mouthwash to reduce bacteria and food particles.

No matter how busy you are, brush your teeth for two minutes and thoroughly floss each morning and night, and make sure your children do the same.

3. Watch What You Drink 

Try to limit your consumption of teeth-staining beverages such as red wine, coffee, tea, and soda. Drink plenty of water, particularly after meals, as it helps remove bacteria from food particles and dilutes acid from alcohol.

Encourage your family to do the same, and choose fluoridated water, such as from the tap, when you can since it helps strengthen teeth. 

4. Don’t Crack Nuts With Your Teeth 

Healthy and delicious, nuts are an ideal holiday snack. When you crack them with your teeth, though, you might require an emergency dental visit for a broken tooth. Make sure you and all of your family members use nutcrackers instead.

5. Schedule a Dentist Appointment 

Give your family’s teeth and gums a healthy start in the new year by scheduling post-holiday dentist appointments. Professional teeth cleanings will remove any plaque or tartar that’s built up during the season, and your dentist will detect and treat any problems before they worsen. 

To keep your family’s oral health in excellent condition all year long, turn to Wayne T. Martin, D.D.S., P.C. Located in Gulf Shores, AL, Dr. Martin and Dr. Connor J. Rutledge provide family and cosmetic dentistry with a focus on personalized, patient-centered care in a practice that has earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau®. Whether you or a family member needs a routine teeth cleaning or a more involved procedure such as a root canal, the friendly team will ensure your visit is as comfortable as possible. Learn more about their services online and call (251) 968-4446 to schedule your first appointment with this trusted dentist today.