It’s that time of year again when the air is filled with delicious aromas of the holiday season. Unfortunately, amidst the celebrations and delicious treats our oral health often takes a bit of a hit. The combination of ever-available sweets and altered daily routines can be damaging to our teeth. Here are a few tips on how to get through the holiday season without getting a cavity:
- Minimize frequency of eating sweets.
If two kids ate the same amount of candy but one kid ate it all at once and one spread it out over the day, which one would be at higher risk of developing cavities? The one that spread it out throughout the day!
Every time you eat, the pH in your mouth goes down making it more likely for cavities to develop. So, for every hour you eat something sweet your mouth will be in this cavity-promoting state for more of the day.
- Eat it with dinner!
If you are going to have sweets, have it right after mealtime. After your meal the pH is already reduced so adding a little bit of sugar then will have less effect on decay risk compared to if you had it an hour later.
- Keeping up with routines.
Often over the holidays we stay up late and may skip brushing because you’re too tired. Try brushing as soon as you finish dinner. That way your teeth are brushed even if you are exhausted by the time you crawl into bed. Also, it helps decrease after-dinner snacking!
So, remember, you ARE allowed to indulge over the holidays but remember these tips to help optimize your oral health!
