With Thanksgiving around the corner, it’s time to think about the ways you can have a smile-healthy holiday season. This isn’t as hard as you think it is. If you do these five things on Thanksgiving Day, you will have a better chance at maintaining a strong and healthy smile:
Drink water
As you stuff your face with turkey, ham, stuffing, rolls, and pie, it’s very important that you drink a lot of water. Drinking water will keep you hydrated and will also wash away debris and prevent plaque formation. Drinking water will also help you increase your saliva flow, which helps fight cavities.
Limit the sticky foods
Sticky foods can cause major harm to your smile. This is because they tend to stick to your teeth for many hours, promoting tooth decay and bacteria build up. Some sticky foods include cranberry relish, pecan pie, and mashed potatoes. However, if you do decide to eat these foods, please clean your smile as soon as possible, whether that means that you swish your mouth with water or brush and floss your teeth.
Brush and floss
Do your best to brush and floss your teeth 30 minutes after you eat. Now, we know you may not be at home for thanksgiving, so carry a small pocket toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss with you to your destination. Brushing and flossing will help you remove the food particles from the smile, and it’s especially important to brush and floss if you decide to eat sticky, sugary foods.
Shorten your meal time
Many people tend to snack throughout the day or drag out the meal time. If you could be considered as one of these people, it’s best to only designate a specific time for food and then spend the rest of the day playing games and visiting with family and friends. This will keep you from continually exposing your smile to acids.
Make a cleaning appointment
Now, you don’t have to schedule a cleaning on Thanksgiving Day, but it’s very important that you have a dental cleaning appointment after the holiday. During your appointment, our dental team will deeply clean your smile and wash away the remaining debris from your Thanksgiving meal.
We care about you and your smile, and Thanksgiving can be a scary time for your teeth. So, we encourage you to use the mentioned tips and do your best to prevent dental issues this holiday season. If you have any questions or if you would like to schedule your cleaning appointment, please call our office now!