How to Protect your Oral Health over the Holiday Season

There’s a lot to love about the holiday season. Getting time off of work, spending time with family, eating delicious food, and swapping gifts all make it the highlight of many people’s whole year. But the holiday season also presents many hazards to your oral health. That may be why scheduling checkups and cleanings in January has become a tradition for some people.

If you want to make it through the holiday season with your oral health intact, here are a few things you can try.

Watch for Cold Weather

As you may be aware, winter air is significantly drier than at other times of the year. People grab some lotion and lip balm when the temperature drops, but may not know the way that cold weather can affect oral health.

Dry air can cause a dry mouth, which means that it hinders the production of saliva. This saliva is normally what carries food out of the mouth and into the stomach, and a lack of it means that food will just sit there, feeding bacteria. To counter the damage that dry air can do to your oral health, it’s important to stay hydrated. Carry a bottle of water wherever you go this holiday season to ensure good oral health.

Steer Clear of Red Wine

Red wine is common at holiday dinners, but it’s associated with many oral health issues. Alcohol can pull moisture out of the mouth which, as has been established, can facilitate bacteria growth. Red wine also contains pigments that can discolor the teeth over time. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, pairing your wine with a tall glass of water can address both of these issues. It can also be helpful to brush your teeth before and after drinking wine, as its pigments can adhere to plaque deposits. Speaking of…

Invest in a Travel Dental Kit

When you’re busy traveling for the holidays, or eating out at a restaurant, it can be difficult to find the time to brush after meals. Travel dental kits contain everything you need to maintain your teeth—a brush, toothpaste, floss, etc.—in a package convenient enough to carry with you wherever you go.

Protecting your oral health doesn’t have to interfere with enjoying the holiday season. If you take a few precautions, you should be able to protect your smile into January and beyond.

About Our Practice

If you want a dental practice that will treat you like more than a name on a chart, we at On Point Dentistry want to show you how good dental care can be. We know that no two patients are the same, so we’ll take the time to get to know your unique needs and design a treatment plan tailored to you. If you have any questions about how to take care of your teeth through the holidays, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (469) 476-4092.