Press Release: Dakota Dental Helps Patients Keep Their Teeth Shiny and Bright This Holiday Season

Stress, sugary treats and staining beverages can make the holiday season less than merry for patients’ teeth. The family dentists at Dakota Dental give a list of dental pitfalls and how patients can avoid them this holiday season.

Sugar may be one of the most obvious grinches of the holiday season. Bacteria in the mouth feeds off of sugar, and the resulting acidic waste bacteria makes is harmful to tooth enamel. Candy canes, cookies, and chocolate are common ways people overindulge on sugar during the holidays, but keep in mind other things like hot cocoa, cinnamon rolls, sodas and alcoholic beverages can sneak extra sugar into your diet as well.

Though it’s fine to enjoy a few holiday treats, be sure to indulge in moderation and brush and floss regularly to keep sugars and plaque from building up too much.

Another thing that can contribute to tooth decay is drinking wine. Both red and white wines contain high amounts of acid, which can eat away at tooth enamel and eventually cause cavities on teeth. Red wine can also stain teeth over time. To minimize the damage wine can cause to teeth, avoid swishing wine around in your mouth, and be sure to drink water in between drinks to rinse away acids.

Stress is another factor that can harm healthy teeth. Holiday stress can cause people to clench or grind their teeth without realizing it, which can cause a chipped tooth, headaches, or jaw pain. Stress and holiday travel can also disrupt taking care of your teeth and your regular brushing schedule, so it’s important to be mindful to brush teeth even when traveling.

Talk to the dentists at Dakota Dental for more preventative dental care tips to keep teeth healthy this holiday season. If teeth are looking dull, a routine cleaning or professional teeth whitening can help brighten smiles just in time for holiday pictures.

Make an appointment with Dakota Dental today and keep your teeth happy all holiday season long!