{"id":2198,"date":"2020-12-17T14:54:25","date_gmt":"2020-12-17T22:54:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dentalcareofri.wpengine.com\/?p=2198"},"modified":"2020-12-17T14:54:38","modified_gmt":"2020-12-17T22:54:38","slug":"tips-for-keeping-your-teeth-healthy-over-the-holidays","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dentalcareofriverside.net\/tips-for-keeping-your-teeth-healthy-over-the-holidays\/","title":{"rendered":"Tips for Keeping Your Teeth Healthy Over the Holidays"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"uk-hidden@s\"><img src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/tips-for-keeping-teeth-healthy-over-the-holidays-mobile.jpg\" alt=\"Tips for Keeping Your Teeth Healthy Over the Holidays\" width=\"100%\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"uk-visible@s\"><img src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/tips-for-keeping-teeth-healthy-over-the-holidays.jpg\" alt=\"Tips for Keeping Your Teeth Healthy Over the Holidays\" width=\"100%\"><\/div>\n<p>Research suggests that  the average American gorges on more than 3,000 on Christmas, far exceeding the  daily recommendations for both men and women. Many seem to feel that gaining  weight over the holiday period is simply a foregone conclusion, but does that  really mean that our teeth need to suffer as well? <\/p>\n<p>There is certainly  nothing wrong with enjoying some special treats and confections during the  festive period, but everyone needs to pay special attention to their oral  health habits, too. The following holiday oral health tips from Dental Care of  Riverside can help.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<div class=\"uk-align-right@m uk-text-center\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"400\" height=\"225\" style=\"max-width:100%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/2MsPWdhEl28?rel=0&#038;autoplay=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<h2>1. Steer Clear of  Gummy, Sticky, Sweet Treats<\/h2>\n<p>Indulging a holiday  hankering for something sweet is certainly acceptable when celebrating with  friends and family, but it pays to be choosy. There are certain types of foods  that are worse for the teeth than others. As such, do your teeth a favor and  try to resist things like gummy candies, dried fruits, chips, and crackers  (known to produce excess acids in the mouth), and soda. Try hard not to crunch  ice as well, as this habit leads to enamel breakdown.<\/p>\n<p> Rather, focus on enjoying  traditional holiday foods that are much easier on the teeth. These include  nutrient rich roasted turkey as well as sprouts. These are items that are not  going to cause dental damage, but which also impart a sense of holiday enjoyment.<\/p>\n<p>If holiday cookies are a  tradition you simply cannot skip, perhaps opt for gingerbread, as it contains  less sugar than many of the other varieties that tend to be so popular at this  time of the year.<\/p>\n<p>In terms of liquids,  clear liquid options are your best bet. Though a glass of red wine might sound  like a jolly idea, it is known to discolor the teeth and leave an unpleasant  residue. But wine is a non-negotiable holiday treat, at least try to eat some  cheese while you drink, as it will help balance the mouth&#8217;s pH level and  minimize harm.<\/p>\n<h2>2. Strengthen  Dental Health Routines<\/h2>\n<p>Do you occasionally  neglect to brush and floss after a festive night on the town? The fact is that  the holiday season is perhaps the worst time to get lazy about your dental  hygiene, given all of the treats and indulgences that accompany this social  time of year. Consider having a toothbrush and toothpaste with you wherever you  go so that you will always be reminded to take care of your teeth right after  you eat and drink.<\/p>\n<p>Always remember that each  tooth brushing session needs to last for at least two minutes and that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/dental-and-oral-health\/how-often-should-you-floss\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">flossing  should happen twice daily<\/a>. Doing so will reduce the chances that you will face  a costly dental problem down the road.<\/p>\n<p>Urge your friends and  family to stick closely to their dental hygiene routines as well. While it may  be tempting to ignore these types of responsibilities amid so much fun and  frivolity, but the consequences of doing so can be severe. Take care of your  teeth now, and they will take care of you for years to come.<\/p>\n<h2>3. Always Stay  Hydrated<\/h2>\n<p>Recommended water intake  for woman is 11.5 cups daily and for men, it is 15.5 cups. Overindulgence at  the holiday season is a common occurrence, and when it occurs, the body needs  to be replenished. After a festive gathering, make sure to consume a large  amount of water if you did not periodically hydrate during the event itself.  Water is known to hinder the process of tooth decay, and if you can drink  fluoridated water, all the better.<\/p>\n<p>Drinking water after  meals is crucially important, as it works to clear bacteria that may remain in  the mouth, and it also helps with the dilution of acid that alcohol leaves  behind. Water also helps you feel full in a totally calorie-free way, something  that is a welcome thing during the feast-laden holiday season.<\/p>\n<h2>4. Take it Easy on  Your Teeth<\/h2>\n<p>Taking it easy on your  teeth during the holidays is important, yet not always as easy to do as many  might think. Nervous <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humana.com\/learning-center\/health-and-wellbeing\/healthy-living\/nail-biting\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">nail biting<\/a> and opening packages with the teeth are common  activities late in the year, and the damage to the teeth that results can be  significant. Not only can you cause chipping of the teeth, but you can also  damage the enamel and experience subsequent tooth sensitivity.<\/p>\n<p>If you find yourself  experiencing stressful situations while gathering with friends and family and  have trouble with nail biting, there are some things you can do to prevent  serious damage. Keep your nails always trimmed, paint them so you will not want  to harm the pretty manicure, and speak with family members in advance about  avoiding controversial topics that might add stress.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, try not to  use your teeth to tackle common tasks that arise during the holidays, such as  opening gifts and other packages with the teeth. If you are guilty of this  shortcut, stop yourself now and save your teeth the trouble!<\/p>\n<h2>5. Make a  Post-Holiday Checkup Appointment Today<\/h2>\n<p>Even before the festive  period begins, make sure to schedule a dental exam and cleaning for the start  of the new year. Remember, though, that the demand for appointments after the  holidays is increased, and therefore you need to get on the calendar way ahead  of time. If you have a visit already planned for December, try not to cancel  it, because you may find it hard to secure a replacement time slot until well  into the following year.<\/p>\n<h2>The Importance of  Dental Care at the Holidays<\/h2>\n<p>As is the case on a  year-round basis, preventative dental care during the holiday period is far  better than having to undergo inconvenient, costly treatments later. Having a  strong oral hygiene regimen in place before the festive season begins is the  right way to keep your teeth in top shape not just now, but also well into the  future.<\/p>\n<p>The team at Dental Care  of Riverside urges you to avoid overindulgences, brush, and floss regularly,  stay hydrated, and remain vigilant about the health of your teeth even as you  celebrate with loved ones.<\/p>\n<p>If you would like to  schedule an appointment now or once the holiday revelry is over, contact <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dentalcareofriverside.net\/contact\/\">Dental  Care of Riverside<\/a> today. We look forward to seeing you! <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Research suggests that the average American gorges on more than 3,000 on Christmas, far exceeding the daily recommendations for both men and women. Many seem to feel that gaining weight over the holiday period is simply a foregone conclusion, but does that really mean that our teeth need to suffer as well? There is certainly [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2199,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1,19,23,21],"tags":[],"post_flags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dentalcareofriverside.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2198"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dentalcareofriverside.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dentalcareofriverside.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dentalcareofriverside.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dentalcareofriverside.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2198"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.dentalcareofriverside.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2198\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dentalcareofriverside.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2199"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dentalcareofriverside.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2198"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dentalcareofriverside.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2198"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dentalcareofriverside.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2198"},{"taxonomy":"post_flag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dentalcareofriverside.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_flags?post=2198"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}