The holidays can be a joyful time, complete with family, friends, and good food. Unfortunately, too much of a good thing can be bad, especially for your dental health. When it comes to the meals, snacks, and sweet treats you choose, the result can be learning that you have cavities at your post-holiday dental appointment. What can you do to avoid this? This blog post offers helpful tips to help you maintain a healthy smile as you enter the new year.
How Harmful Can the Holidays Be To Your Dental Health?
According to a survey performed in 2024 on the study of sugar consumption among Americans, it is believed that:
- Around 82% of Americans eat sugary treats at least once per week or more during the holidays.
- Nearly 40% of individuals noticed changes to their oral health after the holidays (i.e., discomfort, sensitivity).
- An estimated 30% of individuals claim they consume sweets daily during the holidays.
When you combine unhealthy food habits during the holidays with a relaxed approach to oral hygiene care, you can end up with cavities that require restorative treatment to fix.
What Can You Do to Ensure a Healthy Smile During the Holidays?
If you want to keep your smile healthy and beautiful throughout the holidays and into the new year, there are several tips you can follow, including:
- Brushing your teeth twice a day (morning and night) with fluoride toothpaste for two minutes each time.
- Flossing at least once before going to bed to remove plaque and bacteria from between your teeth.
- Rinsing with an ADA-approved mouthwash to flush out any remaining bacteria left behind after brushing and flossing.
- Drinking lots of water during mealtimes and throughout the day. This will stimulate your salivary glands, which help neutralize harmful acids that can break down tooth enamel.
- Eating healthy foods, like lean meats, fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy, leafy greens, etc., that contain good vitamins and minerals.
- Being mindful of non-healthy foods that you consume, including candy, soda, red wine, cookies, etc., that are known to cause tooth decay and cavities.
- Chewing sugar-free gum to stimulate saliva and minimize the risk of tooth decay.
- Wearing appropriate mouth protection (i.e., nightguard) if you grind your teeth, as this offers greater protection against enamel erosion and jaw pain.
Do not let the holidays cause you to enter the new year with a painful or damaged smile. Practice good habits while you are away so that you can enjoy healthy, beautiful teeth in 2026.
Meet the Practice
At New Haven Dental Group, our dentists provide conservative care to patients of all ages. When preparing for the holidays, we encourage patients to be mindful of what they eat and why it is essential to practice good oral hygiene. Whether you are staying at home or planning to travel to see family and friends this season, contact our Hamden location at 203-587-7327 to learn how to avoid common oral health problems during the holidays.