The holiday season is quickly arriving. Don't get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season
so much that you neglect your teeth and gums. One way to keep your mouth healthy is to maintain your daily
brushing and flossing routine to ward off cavities and gum disease, no matter how tired you are after a long
day of holiday shopping or a holiday party.
However, you keep your smile healthy and beautiful this holiday season in other ways too. Read to learn
four additional tips for maintaining a healthy smile this holiday season.
1. Obtain Your Biannual Dental Checkup Before Flying
If you plan to fly to a friend's or family member's house this holiday season, be sure to obtain your
twice-yearly dental checkup before you depart. When the air pressure in the cabin changes when flying, it can
cause pain in unhealthy teeth. This pain is called barodontalgia.
Teeth most likely to be affected by barodontalgia pain include those with cracks, cavities, or old filings
in need of replacement. Any other condition that causes small amounts of air to become trapped in teeth can
also cause barodontalgia pain. Typically, this pain does resolve upon landing, but in some cases,
barodontalgia can damage teeth by causing a condition called barotrauma.
Ensuring that your teeth are healthy before flying can help you avoid pain and potential worsening of any
existing dental problems.
2. Enjoy Alcohol Responsibly
Even if you typically do not drink much alcohol, you may enjoy an occasional alcoholic beverage during the
holiday season. While you don't have to avoid alcohol consumption completely to keep your mouth healthy,
avoid overindulging. Studies have shown that excessive alcohol consumption can raise
your risk
of developing oral cancer.
Excessive alcohol consumption can also cause a condition called dry mouth. When your mouth is dry, it
contains less saliva. Saliva kills cavity-causing bacteria and neutralizes the acids in foods that wear away
tooth enamel.
To help prevent dry mouth when enjoying an alcoholic beverage, drink plenty of water before, after, and
while consuming the alcohol. Drinking water before and after the beverage will help keep you hydrated, while
the water you sip while enjoying your alcoholic beverage will help rinse bad bacteria out of your
mouth.
3. Enjoy Your Desserts With Meals at Holiday Parties
During the holiday season, you may attend many gatherings where delicious desserts are served alongside
traditional dinner foods. You may love savoring your dessert after your main meal, but doing so can be bad
for your teeth if you don't brush soon after consuming the sugary treats.
If you can't brush after eating a meal, then eat your desserts with your savory foods, as the American
Dental Association (ADA) recommends, instead of after them. Your mouth produces more saliva during a meal
than after. This extra saliva will help keep the sugar in the desserts from causing cavities.
Also, consider ending your meal with cheese. Studies have shown that eating a piece of cheese neutralizes
acids
in your mouth that contribute to enamel erosion and cavity formation.
4. Wear a Snap-on Smile in Those Holiday Photos
If you are not happy with the appearance of your teeth, then you may not be looking forward to those
holiday photos you take with your family and friends. While there are numerous ways to improve the appearance
of your smile, an easy way to obtain a picture-perfect smile is to speak to your dentist about obtaining a Snap-on Smile.
A Snap-on Smile is a low-cost alternative to a full set of dental veneers, a removable denture, and/or
dental implants. You can wear it in those holiday photos and even to those holiday parties when you want to
look your best.
Follow these tips to enjoy your holiday season while maintaining your healthy smile. Contact the office of
Michael G. Landy DDS to schedule a dental checkup before flying and/or discuss if a Snap-On Smile is right
for you.
