Welcome the holidays with these dental care tips!
‘Tis the season for candy – don’t let it be the season for cavities.
Back-to-school celebrations are in the past and in the immediate future is Halloween, the mother of all candy-filled holidays. Next comes Thanksgiving with its pies and pastries. Then there are the winter holidays – Christmas, Kwanzaa, and Hanukah –followed by New Year’s Eve. And before you know it, Valentine’s Day arrives, and then Easter!
Sweet treats are an integral part of American culture, and every holiday seems to have specific sweets associated with it. Everywhere you turn, there are opportunities to indulge: the classroom, the office, parties, and more. So what is a person to do to protect their mouths from the hazards of sugar?
Dakota Dental, your Apple Valley dentistry center, has a few tips to help you resist holiday treat temptation and prevent the need for cavity fillings. First, fill up on the good stuff like vegetables, fruits, and proteins. Less space means less desire for extras. Next, make good choices. Select sugar-free options if possible, and avoid sticky or chewy candies, which tend to remain on the teeth longer and allow bacteria more time to create tooth-damaging, cavity-causing acids. For kids, try to minimize sweets by replacing candy with quarters or small toys.
A good rule of thumb that the dental services professionals at Dakota Dental family dentistry recommend is to keep water with you. Drink plenty of water after sweets and snacks to keep bacteria from growing. Also, be sure to brush and floss regularly to remove bacteria and plaque build-up. Keep a toothbrush and floss with you so you can duck into a bathroom at any given time to freshen up those pearly whites.
For more tips on taking care of your teeth, be sure to check out Dakota Dental’s preventive dental care blog, or contact Dakota Dental for a cleaning appointment or consultation. Dakota Dental’s dentists for kids are happy to show younger family members how to clean your teeth properly and prevent dental health issues.