Britania Dentist Toothcare and the Holidays

See your Britannia dentist about oral health care during the holiday season

With the holiday season right around the corner, your Britannia dentist wants to remind you that the festivities of this time of year can be tough on your daily oral care habits. Many of us find that we are attending more parties and snacking more than at other times of the year, exposing our teeth to sugar and cavity-causing bacterial acids.

But we can enjoy the holidays and all the sweet reward it brings as long as we remember to keep up on proper dental and oral hygiene. There are five important tips that will help you maintain a realistic dental care plan during the holiday season:

1. Don’t over do it. At this time of year, as any other time, it is not a good idea to over indulge in sweets or drinks. The extra sugar in these festive treats can cause weight gain in addition to tooth decay. Try ordering a club soda with cranberry in a social setting or if you are having an alcoholic drinks, opt for a a dry red or white wine instead of high calorie cocktail drinks.

2. Always pack a spare toothbrush. If your plans include visiting friends or family for a meal, take a toothbrush at least and if you have room in the bottom of your bag add a tube of toothpaste and some dental floss. Just in case your meal turns into an overnight say, be sure that you pack enough dental supplies for a longer stay.

3. Don’t postpone your oral care regime. Even if your festivities go on for many hours or your dinner out with friends includes multiple courses, take the time to excuse yourself to brush and floss. Once you have taken care of your teeth and gums, you can continue enjoying a few drinks or extra treats because the excessive sugars and acids that damage teeth have been cleaned out of the mouth.

4. Have your dental work done as soon as needed. Putting off unpleasant procedures like root canals or fillings until after the holidays may make the current dental problems worse. It can also lead to unnecessary pain if a toothaches gets worse and keeps you from relaxing or having fun or whatever you have planned during this busy time.

5. Have a dental emergency plan. Because many dental offices close over the holidays, you should ask your dentist about the details of his emergency dental back-up plan. You should get the contact phone numbers and locations of dentists he recommends while his office is closed. It always seems that issues like a crown breaking or a filling coming loose happen when we are least prepared to take care of them.

Following these five simple tips will keep your teeth and gums strong and healthy during the holiday season. Whether you are smiling for photos, or enjoying the taste of the great holiday foods that come with the season, your Britannia dentist will help you do it with confidence that you are putting your best smile forward.