Christmas is coming and with it, mountains of presents and a whole lot of sweet treats.
Cookies, cakes, candies and more are the taste of the season, which is great for our taste buds, but not so great for our teeth. But, there’s no way anyone is going to pass up every single treat that gets offered to them this season – nor should they have to.
So, instead of trying to get you to decline sweets and live like a saint this season (and not Saint Nick!) we’re going to give you a few quick tips to make sure you make it to the new year without a mouthful of cavities.
More brushing and flossing
You probably saw this one coming. One of the best ways to keep your teeth healthy is to maintain an oral care regime. We always recommend brushing at least two times a day (preferably three!) but for the holiday season we’d recommend bumping up that number and following each with flossing.
That means brushing and flossing at least after every meal, with maybe a quick one before bed as well if you’ve indulged in any post-meal snacking.
Bring floss etc. with you
Snacking isn’t restricted to home, so why should your oral care be? While it’s not always possible to bring everything with you, sneaking some floss (or floss picks) with you will help you keep your teeth clean as you move about your day.
Bonus points for bringing along a toothbrush and toothpaste, or even mouthwash!
Keep a pack of sugar-free gum on you
Sugar-free gum is not only helpful for cleaning your teeth and freshening your breath, it’s also great at lessening your cravings for sweets. So, this one may even help you avoid a few of those ‘holiday pounds’!
Avoid sticky
This is the only tip where we’re going to recommend avoiding anything. While sugar in general can be hard on our teeth, sticky sweets are the worst offenders. These sweets tend to latch onto our enamel and create the perfect environment for plaque to form.
So, we recommend avoiding them. But, if you just can’t say no to a good, sticky treat, go for it! Just make sure to do a little oral care (like tooth brushing or flossing) afterward.