Holiday Goodies and Your Teeth

The number of happy memories made over the holiday season are simply too numerous to count. However, if we had to pick a favourite, it would likely be all the wonderful sweet treats that seem to suddenly flood all the aisles in the grocery store. No matter where you turn, it seems like you’re surrounded by a delicious onslaught of goodies that are determined to get into your pantry.

Avoid Grazing

Although it might sound a bit counterintuitive, eating all your sugary treats in one fell swoop is better for your teeth than slowly nibbling away at them all day long. The reason for this stems from how sugar increases the rate of tooth decay. Bacteria reside everywhere inside your mouth, and are always looking for their next meal. As an unfortunate byproduct of their digestion of sugar, they secrete acidic waste products that can damage your tooth enamel. Therefore, if you’re providing your bacteria with an easily accessible source of food all day long, there’s nothing stopping them from happily gnawing away at your enamel the whole time. Having all your sugar in one sitting will prevent this from happening, although we still recommend you limit your intake for various health reasons!

Drink Water

As you’re enjoying your holiday treats this season, take a second to have a swish of water before reaching in for the next cookie. A quick rinse will help clear out any food debris that might be left between your teeth, preventing the bacteria from getting at it. Drinking plenty of water also has many other benefits for your health, so it’s a win-win situation!

No Holiday From Oral Hygiene

The holidays are a great time to relax and unwind, and it’s important that you take some time off to enjoy yourself. However, there are no holidays when it comes to your oral health! Brushing and flossing regularly become even more important during this time, as you are likely spending a lot more time eating and chewing. Ensure that you don’t fall out of your well established oral hygiene regime. The last thing we want to see is a roomful of patients with cavities first thing in the new year!

Everyone is happy to enjoy some time with their families and indulge in a treat or two, but remember that the bacteria in your mouth are working around the clock! Take care of your teeth, and you’ll thank yourself later for it. Feel free to reach us at (587) 317-7959 if you have any questions or concerns. Happy holidays!