When the holidays arrive, it’s tempting and easy to neglect your oral care routine. With all the sweets, travel, and activities, you can forget dentist visits and daily care tasks. However, it’s especially crucial to be mindful of oral health during this season. You’ll look beautiful in holiday photos and ensure the new year doesn’t require an unexpected dentist trip.

How to Keep Your Teeth Healthy During the Holidays

1. Have Sugar-Free Gum Handy

You might not always have time to brush and floss between parties and family dinners. Instead, chew a piece of sugar-free gum to stimulate your saliva production; this keeps your mouth moist and washes decay-causing bacteria from your teeth. It can also dislodge stuck food.

Never choose options with sugar, acidic flavorings, and other harmful ingredients that contribute to decay. Instead, look for sugar-free products that contain sorbitol, mannitol, aspartame, or xylitol. You should also brush and floss your teeth when you have access to a bathroom and oral tools again.

2. Balance Sweets & Healthy Snacks

Eating excessive holiday treats will cause you to develop cavities, so balance these treats with healthy foods. Apples will naturally brush plaque from your teeth; carrots offer similar results.

You can also drink a large glass of milk with your dessert—it’s rich in calcium, which fortifies enamel. Whenever possible, drink plenty of water to wash sugars and acids from your teeth.

3. Chew Wisely

Biting into candy canes, chewing chestnuts, or using your teeth to open packaging can lead to chips, breaks, and painful fractures. These harm your smile and often warrant an emergency trip to the dentist. Be mindful of how you chew and what you’re biting down on, and remember that your teeth should never be used as tools.

A trip to the dentist is an excellent way to wrap up the holiday season. If you’re looking for a practice in the Enterprise, AL, area, turn to the office of Dr. William B. Collier Jr., DMD. This dentist is backed by 35 years of experience and offers a wide scope of general and cosmetic dentistry services. Dr. Collier welcomes patients of all ages and is committed to creating a relaxed atmosphere. Call (334) 347-5026 to schedule a teeth cleaning, and visit his website to learn more about the practice.