Seasonal Smile Struggles: Are the Holidays the Worst Time for Oral Health?

The holiday season is “the most wonderful time of the year” for good reason. People enjoy parties, get-togethers, and close moments with their loved ones from December to January. Still, these facts don’t change an unpleasant truth: the holidays are also the worst time for oral health. Your Dallas dentist will even share why that’s the case with you. So, keep reading to learn why holidays harm smiles and what you can do about it.

Why Do Holidays Harm Smiles?

The main problem is that winter holidays promote bad oral habits, specifically poor oral hygiene and holiday grazing. These two practices can put even the healthiest smile in harm’s way.

Poor Oral Hygiene

Did you know good oral care often depends on consistent routines? Well, the holidays can make such routines hard to follow.

Despite all their fun, the holidays are often disruptive. They involve travel, reunions, and other factors that upset regular routines. Given this fact, you could forget to clean your teeth while the festivities are going on. You’d then be at a higher risk of cavities, gum disease, and worse.

Holiday Grazing

While people can snack on stuff anytime, all-day grazing happens a lot during the holidays. This tendency doesn’t do your smile any good.

Don’t forget that winter is chock full of holiday sweets – gingerbread, peppermints, chocolate, etc. Since these treats have loads of sugar, grazing on them makes cavities very likely. The constant eating can also cause dry mouth, attracting bad bacteria that could infect your teeth and gums.

Holiday Tips on Protecting Your Grin

Despite the dental dangers, you can take steps to protect your grin from the holidays. All you need to do is the following:

• Avoid Tooth-Rotting Sweets – Even if it’s the holiday season, you don’t need to chow down on sweets. Try tooth-friendly alternatives like cheese or veggies instead.
• Only Eat at Set Times  – As tempting as it is to graze, only eat at set meal times. This rule will keep you from binging on holiday junk food.
• Drink Water – You should try to drink water after any round of snacking. Since it lacks sugar, rinsing with it will remove debris from your teeth.
• See Your Dentist – Get a dental checkup before the holidays ramp up. By doing so, your dentist can strengthen your smile to endure future feasting.

The holidays are the worst time for oral health, but that fact doesn’t make you helpless. Remember the tips above so winter doesn’t ruin your smile!

About the Practice

Bear Creek Family Dentistry is based throughout the DFW metroplex, including Dallas, Fort Worth, and Arlington. Led by a diverse team of dentists, our practice strives to meet every family’s dental needs quickly and effectively. We do so by tailoring our preventive, cosmetic, and restorative treatments to each patient’s unique smile! For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (214)-333-3100.