How to Keep Your Teeth Healthy During the Holidays

To keep your teeth healthy and clean this holiday season, follow these Snow Family Dentistry tips! 

1. Avoid Cracking Nuts with Your teeth 

Although protein found in nuts helps keep muscles and bones strong, you shouldn’t test the strength of your teeth by shelling nuts with them. The hard surface of most nutshells can cause serious tooth and gum damage, and may even crack teeth. To avoid a dental emergency, shell nuts before eating them. 

2. Be Careful When Eating Chewy Treats

The holidays are full of candy platters that are usually loaded with chewy treats that can harm your teeth. This is because substances that are sticky can cling to tooth enamel and lead to tooth decay. Additionally, caramel and taffy treats can even yank out fillings. We’re not saying avoid these items all together, just eat them sparingly and along with other foods to keep them from sticking to your teeth.

3. Don’t Use Your Teeth to Open Packages and Bottles

While opening presents, avoid using your teeth- they are not the right tools for the task! Gripping a package or stubborn bottle cap with your teeth can crack them, possibly requiring a root canal or crown. To avoid this, reach for scissors or a bottle opener instead.

4. Avoid Chewing On Hard Things 

Crunching on ice or hard candy can lead to cracked or chipped teeth, which are painful and pricey to treat. Whether you’re enjoying a sweet, or finishing the ice in your holiday cocktail, let it dissolve naturally. Better yet, skip these items altogether. Ice can cause discomfort for sensitive teeth, and hard candies promote tooth decay.

5. Do Not Bite Your Nails 

We all know that the holidays can be very stressful; despite this, try to avoid biting your nails as much as possible! This habit is bad for your fingernails and teeth, and is linked to teeth grinding, clenching, jaw problems, facial pain and sensitive teeth. If you get the urge to start biting your nails, distract yourself for a few minutes. If that doesn’t work, consider buying bitter-tasting nail polish that’s designed to dissuade you from putting your nails anywhere near your mouth.

Why Choose Snow Family Dentistry 

From our family to yours, we hope you have a very happy holiday season! If you would like to schedule a check up or teeth whitening service before you visit family and friends, schedule an appointment with us today!