‘Tis the season for treats and festive snacks. But what about our teeth? Can we splurge a little and enjoy holiday foods while staying mouth-healthy? The answer is yes. We can still celebrate and enjoy our favorite foods while maintaining oral hygiene and protecting our teeth and gums. And while we focus on the holiday rush, many patients find that December is an excellent time to catch up on checkups and dental procedures they’ve been putting off.
How Can I Keep My Teeth and Gums Healthy During The Holidays?
The American Dental Association offers excellent tips for oral health during this busy and sugarplum-filled season. You can still have fun and enjoy the occasional candy cane if you follow these guidelines:
- Stick with your routine. We’re extra busy during the holidays, often returning home late from gatherings and errands. But don’t give up on your oral health practices. With all the festivities and treats, there’s more reason than ever to stick with your good habits. Keep brushing twice a day and flossing daily.
- Mix fresh fruits and veggies in with your holiday treats. Many hosts offer lovely fruit and veggies trays at gatherings. Cheese is also a terrific alternative to sugary snacks.
- Drink water. It helps you stay hydrated for overall health and helps keep plaque from building up on your teeth by washing away the sugars many snacks leave on your teeth.
- Sweets are fine in moderation, but the ADA recommends eating sweets with meals rather than throughout the day. Your mouth creates extra saliva when you eat, which helps wash away food particles and sugars.
- Avoid sticky candies and take it easy on hard candies. They tend to leave sugar on your teeth, and hard candies can also cause cracks or chips. Chocolate is a better alternative for your teeth, and dark chocolate is lower in sugar than many other sweets.
- Limit alcohol– it contributes to mouth dryness.
- Don’t put off routine dental visits. In fact, for many patients, the end of the year is the perfect time for checkups and dental work. Take advantage of time off from work and school to see your dentist.
Add Dental Care To Your End-of-Year To-Do List
Most insurance plans run on a calendar year, and many offer “use it or lose it” benefits that expire and restart in the new year. Many policies include deductibles and yearly maximums that turn over on January 1, so it makes sense to take care of needed dental work before the current year ends.
- Yearly maximums cap the amount your plan will cover in a calendar year. If you have this type of policy and haven’t met your maximum, it’s a great time to get needed work and preventive care done. You never know what 2022 will bring in terms of expenses.
- Deductibles are the amount you pay out of pocket before insurance kicks in. After you meet your deductible, your insurance covers your services. Families often meet their deductible early in the year, then book a final round of appointments later in the year when everything is covered.
- Copays and dental fees may go up in the new year, so it’s best to knock out needed work before changes take effect.
Gift Yourself A Terrific Smile
In addition to routine cleanings and needed repairs, many patients see the end-of-year holidays as a chance to consider cosmetic dental procedures they’ve been dreaming of.
- In-office teeth whitening is the most popular cosmetic dentistry procedure and makes a dramatic difference compared with over-the-counter products.
- Veneers and crowns cover cracks, discoloration and damaged or irregularly shaped teeth.
- Invisalign aligners allow your family dentist to straighten your teeth and improve your bite without the cost of braces and specialized orthodontic care.
Thanks to technology and training, your family dentist can now take care of more cosmetic procedures than ever. If you want to give yourself the gift of a gorgeous smile, talk with your dentist about options that will work best for you. There’s nothing like an improved smile to boost confidence in the new year.
Mouth Healthy For The Holidays and Beyond
Many of us spend weeks or months fretting about dental problems before taking action. However, the bottom line is that dental issues won’t go away if you delay treatment, and they’ll usually get worse. The holiday season and the drive to start the new year off right can be an excellent motivator to get to your dentist’s office for a checkup or needed treatment. Greenhill Family Dental Care has you covered for end-of-year catch-up appointments during the holiday break. Let’s ring in the new year with excellent oral health.
