The holiday season has arrived, and adults and children are given plenty of opportunities to celebrate with plenty of celebratory food and drinks. Unfortunately, celebrating can have a negative impact on our dental health. Below are tips to protect your teeth during the holidays.
Understand when is the best time to brush
If you’ve eaten foods that are particularly high in sugar and carbohydrates, it’s a good idea to brush your teeth right after in order to prevent the sugar from feeding the bacteria in your mouth. However, if you’ve paired your sweet treats with a cup of coffee, wait at least 30 minutes before you brush as food and drinks high in acid can weaken your tooth enamel.
Do not use your teeth to crack nuts
During this time of year, we often attend parties and other social events. Many people have various kinds of nuts out on display to snack on. If the nuts have shells, use a nutcracker and never risk seriously damaging your teeth by using them to crack shells.
Be mindful of the acidic content in wine
Wine has high acid content. While you may want to brush your teeth immediately after enjoying a glass of red wine to keep them from becoming stained, all wine is acidic. As with coffee, wait at least 30 minutes before you brush after drinking wine.
Avoid chewing hard candies
Hard candies can lead to chipped or cracked teeth. If you are going to enjoy hard candy, let it melt in your mouth naturally. Be aware that the high sugar content in candy can cause sensitive teeth.
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