Keeping A Healthy Smile Through The Holidays
We are really in the thick of the Holiday Season now. Many of us have always been overwhelmed with candies, hot chocolate and cookies, so it is really important to keep up good dental hygiene the whole time.
As hard as it is, try your best to avoid candies and other sugary sweets, but especially avoid sticky candy like toffee, taffy, and caramel. Although these candies are part of holiday traditions, the sticky nature of the candy will glue it to your teeth and will feed bacteria for a long time. If you are looking for a sweet treat for the holidays, try some adding some fruit to your meals!
On the topic of fruit, it’s important to note that not all traditional holiday food is bad. Cranberries are often associated with celebration in this time of the year and they contain nutrients that can protect your teeth. Proanthocyanidins is a nutrient in cranberries that stops bad bacteria from sticking on your teeth. Cranberry juice can also reduce plaque and the production of sugar in your mouth. Another popular holiday food that can help you is cheese! Many dairy products contain casein, a protein that when combined with compound found in cheese, will protect the tooth enamel. You can even combine all of these to get the perfect, holiday salad with spinach, dried cranberries and your favorite cheese!
The holiday season is a very important time of the year to a lot of us and can be packed with family gatherings, movie watch parties, big photo shoots and strange relatives so it can be easy to forget about your teeth. Take a little extra care this time of the year to keep them healthy, you will thank yourself later.
If you have any questions, give us a call at (210) 877-2273and set up an appointment with Wurzbach Parkway Family Dental today and let us help keep your smile bright through the holiday season!
