As you eat the turkey, ham, rolls, and pie covering your kitchen table, your smile is in danger, and it’s important that you do everything you can to enjoy the holiday all while maintaining the health of your smile. To help you do so, we strongly recommend doing the following things:
Drink 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.
Limit the sticky foods
Sticky foods tend to cling to your teeth, weakening the enamel and promoting tooth decay. Your smile doesn’t need these damaging affects, so we encourage you to avoid the sticky foods altogether. However, if you do decide to consume sticky foods, like pecan pie, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce, please remember to brush and floss your teeth as well as rinse your smile with water quickly after.
Brush and floss
It’s extremely important that you brush and floss your smile throughout the day, but please remember to do so 30 minutes after you eat. Waiting will give your teeth the time they need to produce protective materials that shield them from the brushing and flossing techniques. Now, we know that you may not be at home on Thanksgiving Day, so we strongly recommend that you take a pocket-sized toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss to your Thanksgiving party destination.
Shorten your meal time
If you dedicate a specific time of the day to snacking and eating, your smile will have a better chance at fighting tooth decay this Thanksgiving. Snacking throughout the day will make your smile continually vulnerable to the acids the foods and drinks produce. So, it’s best that you spend the majority of the day visiting and playing games with family and friends rather than snacking.
Schedule a cleaning appointment
Your best chance at maintaining a healthy smile this holiday season is by scheduling a dental cleaning appointment shortly after Thanksgiving. This appointment will help you free your smile from the food particles and bacteria that live in and attack your smile. The appointment will also nourish and strengthen your teeth, preparing you for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.
These five tips will help you have the best and most successful Thanksgiving holiday possible. Remember to at least swish your mouth with water every chance you get so you can save your smile from the rich, sugary, and sticky foods that enter your mouth. If you have any questions, if you would like to learn more, or if you would like to schedule a post-Thanksgiving cleaning appointment, please call our office today!