The holiday season comes around once every year, but if you aren’t careful it can cause serious problems for your oral health. The holiday season is full of potential dental dangers, from excess sugar and disrupted routines to packages that are better opened by kitchen scissors than your incisors! That is why it is important to take care of your oral health this holiday season. Lucky for you, we here at Crossland Dental Associates have five tips to make sure your holidays aren’t ho-hum because of dental problems.

1. Sweets Aren’t Sweet for Your Teeth

Now, no one expects you to completely avoid the Christmas cookies. After all, who can resist gingerbread? But it’s important to brush and floss after eating sweet foods since they can cling to your teeth and lead to cavities and enamel wear, which are not on anyone’s Christmas list.

2. Brush, Floss, and Rinse!

The holiday season can get chaotic, with parties, events, present-giving, and cooking, it can be easy to let your oral health fall by the wayside. You should make time to brush and floss your teeth twice every day, no matter how many sides you promised to cook for dinner. Make sure to brush your teeth in tight circles all over, and make sure you brush for at least two minutes. If you have trouble timing yourself, put on your favorite Christmas carol to help you keep on track—just remember not to sing along, you might bite your tongue! You can also stash dental floss picks in your purse, car, or even backpack for a quick fix while on the go. Say goodbye to spinach-in-the-teeth holiday cards!

3. Cheddar is Better

While cranberries and cherries are in abundance during the holiday season, the extra acid can really do a number on your teeth. That’s why it’s important to grab a slice of cheese to nibble on during the holiday season. Not only does cheese help neutralize the acidity left behind on your teeth, but the extra calcium also doesn’t hurt.

4. Treat Your Teeth Nice, Not Naughty

In the flurry of chaos that is the holidays, it can be easy to use your teeth instead of a pair of scissors, especially when you are in a hurry. Your teeth are useful tools, but they’re not meant to open bottles, bags, or presents. This can cause uneven wear on your teeth at best and serious damage at worst.

5. All Things in Moderation

The holiday season is about enjoying yourself, but as everyone who has had one too many servings of Christmas ham can tell you, sometimes it’s best to take things slow. Reducing the amount of sugar you eat, and keeping up on your oral health routine, can help make sure you’re not stuck with a toothache when you should be trimming the tree.

Here at Crossland Dental Associates, we pride ourselves on serving the Mt. Pleasant, SC area year-round. Whether you’re looking to make an appointment with our office, or for more tips and tricks to survive this holiday season without doing dental damage, we are more than happy to answer any questions you may have so you can deck the halls without any serious dental calls.