Keeping up good oral care during the holidays can be tough. We are surrounded by sugary sweets, sticky food, and delicious drinks. Threats to our dental health can also come from unexpected sources.
For instance, counting down to Christmas with an advent calendar is a fun activity for your kids, but if an advent calendar is filled with chocolate and sweets, it isn’t that great for your teeth.
To help you out this holiday season Alex Bratic Dental Care has come up with 4 great tactics to make an advent calendar dental-smart as well as 8 bonus tips to make your holiday season a healthy and happy one for you, your loved ones, and their teeth!
An Advent Countdown With Less Sugar And More Fun!
Consider the following:
- Story-A-Day – Choose a short, holiday-themed book for every day of your countdown. Have your child open a new book each night at bedtime and read it together.
- Sugar-Free Trinkets – Find some simple goodies to fill each day on your calendar instead of candy. The dollar store is a great place to start your search.
- A Puzzling Treat – Give your child a fun challenge with a customized puzzle. Draw a picture or write a special message on a blank puzzle. Break the pieces apart and place one puzzle piece in each day of your advent calendar.
- Holiday Activities – Come up with a fun holiday activity for each day of the month, then do them as a family. Write down the activity on a slip of paper and tuck one note into each day of your calendar.
Eight Tips For A Healthy Holiday Season
- Drink a lot of water. There are times when we feel hungry that we just need a little bit of water. Provide family and friends with plenty of water to help balance out all of the food and to wash away any sticky, sugary residue that might remain on teeth. Use natural ways of flavouring water, such as peppermint leaves or freshly cut lemon wedges.
- Chew some gum! The physical act of chewing tends to increase salivary flow. If you chew sugarless gum after eating, the increased salivary flow can help neutralize and wash away the acids that are produced when food is broken down by the bacteria in plaque on your teeth. Clinical studies have shown that chewing sugarless gum for 20 minutes following meals can help prevent tooth decay.
- Practice moderation. With all of the great food at fun events that come with the holiday season, moderation can be difficult. But, set a good example by exhibiting moderation on your plate. Christmas treats are great, but don’t forget to eat foods that will help absorb all of that sugar. Fill your plate with healthy vegetables and protein, then sit down with family and friends to enjoy the Christmas season!
- Don’t forget your Alex Bratic dentist!The holidays can be a busy time, but that doesn’t mean you can forget about your teeth. If you are due for a teeth cleaning or need work done, don’t forget to visit your dentist in December.
- Be careful with candy. Hard candies can break your teeth if you bite down on them awkwardly. If you do eat candies, let them dissolve in your mouth instead of biting down on them. And always be sure to brush your teeth after eating sugary foods of any kind.
- Give the gift of electricity. Think about a nice electric toothbrush as a present or a stocking-stuffer. Electric toothbrushes are a good gift choice, because they rotate 3,000 to 7,500 times per minute and can remove plaque that brushing and flossing cannot reach. Many electric toothbrushes also include automatic 30-second timers, so you can brush each section of your teeth for exactly the proper amount of time.
- Teeth are NOT tools! The holidays come with packages to open, tape to apply to presents and loads of other things you may be tempted to break open or cut with your teeth. Don’t do it! Using your teeth as a tool can cause chips and breaks. Using your teeth as tools endangers you of dental emergencies.
- Take more turkey. One holiday food that’s great for your smile is turkey. It’s a great source of phosphorus and protein – both of which can help your body fight tooth decay and keep your teeth strong and healthy.
Comfort, Convenience, and Excellent Care at Alex Bratic
Alex Bratic Dental Care in Beenleigh delivers the premium quality dental services to patients of all ages. We want to help you keep oral health in tip-top shape, so you have your stunning smile always!
Alex Bratic Dental Care is located on City Road near the Pacific Motorway near Beenleigh Station, with convenient public transport nearby and free onsite parking.
Alex Bratic Dental Care delivers general dentistry, preventative dentistry, cosmetic dentistry and emergency pain relief services to Beenleigh and Brisbane’s southern suburbs.
Call us at (07) 3287 2627 or request appointment today!
