The holiday season is around the corner. Time to hang out with friends and devour delicious food. Food, family, and friends are inseparable in the holiday season. This is the time to relish the delicacies and bless our taste buds, but it is equally important to care about dental hygiene and the after-effects of the holiday season on your dental health. So let us discuss a few tips to maintain good dental hygiene during the holiday season and enjoy it with friends and families without compromising on anything. Large meals: Food is an essential part of any gathering. Human beings bond over food, and it has been like this since the neanderthals. So there is no backing off when it comes to meals, especially during the holiday season. But it is in our hands to choose the right type of food on the table to enjoy the holiday without hesitation. Always prefer freshly cooked foods like vegetables and fresh meat rather than jumping directly to desserts or food containing processed sugars. By doing this, you are not compromising on enjoyment and taking care of dental hygiene as well. Intermittent snacking: Snacking is the main culprit that affects oral hygiene, especially during the holiday season. Chips, chocolates, candy canes, sodas, and whatnot, people will be nibbling on one or the other of the foods mentioned above throughout the day. Repeated exposure to these processed sugars leads to continuously low pH in the oral cavity, making it a picnic for bacteria to harbor on your teeth and party. So it is better to choose healthier options to snack like cheese, celery, and nuts which are nutritious and devoid of processed sugars. Always remember to rinse your mouth after snacking to avoid prolonged deposition of food on the teeth.

Stay hydrated: Partying is common during holidays, and alcohol consumption leads to dehydration. Hence the hangover, bad breath, and dry mouth the following day. So keep chugging water after a solid party night and carry a water bottle throughout the day. Staying hydrated is more important during the holiday season as you indulge in outdoor activities with your family and friends. Dryness leads to reduced washing away of food stuck to teeth due to less production of saliva. Hence staying hydrated makes your holiday happy and healthy. Processed sugars: The holiday season is all about sugar. From candies to chocolates, it is all about celebrating the season. But the aftermath of excessive sugar consumption is already well known. The leading cause of tooth decay, food for bacteria, and fall of pH in the mouth is sugar. It is always better to control the sugar intake during holidays to avoid seeing a dentist in the future. Sticking to regular oral hygiene practices and rinsing whenever sticky or sugary foods are consumed is the best way to maintain proper dental hygiene. Always choose a bar of dark chocolate with less sugar content than sweetened chocolate. Stay away from candies. Regular oral hygiene practices: DO NOT compromise on regular oral hygiene practices during the holiday season, such as brushing twice daily and flossing before bed. Dental hygiene is easily overlooked, especially during the holiday season, due to various reasons. A $1 toothbrush and dental floss can save a hefty sum that you might end up paying your dentist in the future due to poor dental hygiene. So choose wisely.

Regular dental checkup: DO NOT postpone your dental appointments just because it is the holiday season. Do check with your dentist, fix appointments, and get the dental work done in time, as delaying dental treatments can worsen your current situation. Spending time with family is essential but taking care of your dental health is equally important, so do not hesitate to see your dentist if there is any pending treatment. Beverages: Partying calls for indulging in a wide range of drinks, starting from carbonated sodas to wine. It is always advisable to consume these beverages in moderation. Carbonated sodas may lead to teeth erosion, the wearing off of enamel which might lead to sensitivity. Sugars in fizzy drinks also contribute to dental caries. Wine consumption stains the teeth, and staining is very rapid if you have undergone any teeth whitening treatments. So always rinse your mouth immediately after consuming these beverages and consume them in moderation. DIY dental kit: Travelling is the main part of the holiday season. Wherever you travel, make sure you carry this DIY dental kit with you to maintain good oral hygiene. Your dental kit should contain a toothbrush, toothpaste, a tongue cleaner, dental floss or floss picks, and sugar-free chewing gum. These are very easy to carry and are available over the counter. It is always advisable to take a pain killer for toothaches as it is challenging to visit a dentist when you travel to a new place. Make a note of emergency dental clinics to see when you are back from vacation. Do not wait to visit a dentist till the end of the holidays as dental issues flare in a minute. Though it is the hectic time of the year, it doesn’t hurt to take a little time off to follow regular dental hygiene practices and be mindful about what you are consuming during the holiday season as it saves you a great deal of time, money, and energy that you end up spending on dental work.