During the holiday hustle and bustle, it can be easy to forget to take care of your teeth. That’s why we came up with a few helpful tips to keep your smile bright this holiday season!
1) Brush A Little Extra
We understand that the holidays mean you’re going to have more sweets and treats than normal. However, in order to counter act all that sweetness, try brushing and flossing a little extra than normal. You can try to up it to brushing after every meal or just after you’ve had something very sugary. Once the holidays are over, you can do back to brushing twice and flossing once per day.
2) Be Careful What You Chew On
With so many delicious holiday treats, you probably don’t even know where to begin. However, you still need to pay attention to the things you’re chewing on. Avoid chewing any hard candy or ice cubes. This can lead to cracked or chipped teeth and honestly these really aren’t meant to be chewed on to begin with. Also try to limit yourself on candies and treats with caramel or taffy.
3) Your Teeth Are Not A Tool
As excited as you may be to open all your new presents or get that stubborn bottle cap loosened, please do not use your teeth. Using your teeth as a tool to open things can greatly damage them and will cause them to need replacing later on in life. So for the sake of your teeth just get out the scissors next time and save yourself the trouble.
4) Avoid Nail Biting
The holidays are stressful so we can’t blame you for being tempted to bite your nails for a little relief. However, this anxious nibbling is bad for both your fingernails and your teeth. Many experts even link nail biting to teeth grinding, clenching, sensitive teeth and other oral health problems. So if you feel the urge to bite, try to distract yourself for a minute or two to see if the feeling goes away. Another tactic is painting your nails so that its bitter taste dissuades you from the urge.
