As Thanksgiving quickly approaches, it’s best to prepare the food as well as your smile for the holiday. The foods, treats, and deserts that cover the kitchen table are harmful to your smile, and it’s important that you do everything you can to protect your smile all while eating and enjoying your favorite foods. Some things we recommend are:
Drinking a lot of water
If you drink a lot of water throughout the day, your smile will be constantly rinsed and the loose food particles will be washed away. Drinking water will also prevent plaque formation and will promote saliva flow, which will help you fight cavities. Water is also the healthiest drink available, so do your smile and entire body a favor and drink water throughout the day.
Limiting the sticky foods
The sticky foods that cover the table can harm your teeth more than you know. The cranberry sauce, pecan pie, mashed potatoes, and other sticky foods tend to cling to your teeth and create an environment that allows bacteria to thrive and affect your gums and tooth enamel. It’s best to avoid these foods together. However, if you do decide to eat these foods, please brush and floss your teeth as well as rinse your mouth with water afterward.
Brushing and flossing
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.
Shortening your meal time
The worst thing you can do for your smile is snack throughout the day and drag out your meal time. Doing so will keep your smile continually exposed to the acids the food produce, increasing your chances of developing tooth decay. So, it’s best to dedicate a specific time of the day to dinner and snacking and then spend the rest of the day playing games and visiting with friends and family.
Scheduling a cleaning appointment
It’s important that you receive a dental cleaning shortly after the Thanksgiving holiday. This appointment will eliminate your smile from the food particles and bacteria that cover and harm your teeth. It will also nourish and strengthen your smile as well as treat any dental issues that may have developed over the holiday season.
Your smile will remain in tip-top shape if you do these five things. We also recommend sharing this information with your family and friends so they can protect their smiles and maintain a strong oral health as well. Call our office now if you have any questions or if you would like to learn more!