Maintaining Good Dental Hygiene During the Holidays

The holidays can be rough on daily dental and oral care habits. Frequent parties and snacking can constantly expose teeth to sugar and cavity-causing bacterial acids. Out-of-town travels and overnight stays at the homes of friends and family can wreck havoc on daily brushing and flossing regimens.

However, just because the holidays are here does not mean that one should give up on proper dental and oral hygiene. With some forethought and planning, the fun and festivities of the holidays can still be enjoyed without neglecting one's gums and teeth. Here are five essential tips for a realistic dental care plan during the holiday season:

1. Don't leave home without it. Whenever traveling to a friend's or family member's home for a meal, don't forget to pack a spare toothbrush, toothpaste, and roll of floss. Make sure to pack enough dental supplies should the meal extend into an overnight stay or even longer.
2. Don't delay brushing/flossing. When festivities carry on for many hours and include multiple courses, it is easy to put off or neglect one's dental care. However, once the main course is finished and dessert has been served, it is a good time to excuse oneself and go brush and floss. Even if the evening continues with drinks, the excessive sugars and acids that can damage teeth have been mostly cleared out of the mouth.
3. Don't over-indulge in sweet cocktails and drinks. Not only can excessively sweet drinks cause weight gain, but they can also result in tooth decay. When drinking in a social setting, order club soda with lime. If choosing among alcoholic drinks, a dry red or white wine is preferable to a piña colada, mojito, or daiquiri.
4. Don't forget about emergency dental contacts. Many dental offices close over the holidays. Be sure to ask the dentist when he or she is planning on taking a vacation and obtain some emergency dental contact phone numbers and locations. One can never predict just when a crown might break during a Thanksgiving Day celebration, or a filling fall out on New Year's Eve.
5. Don't put off dental work until after the holidays. It is tempting to put off unpleasant procedures such as root canals and fillings until after the holidays are over. However, doing so may make current dental issues worse. Likewise, it may lead to unnecessary toothaches during the time when one is supposed to be relaxing and having fun. Even if there are only a few days left until the big winter break, it is wise to take care of business first, so that there are no painful episodes later.

By following these five tips, one will not be neglecting vital dental and oral care during the holiday season. This is important because much of the holiday season enjoyment depends on having good dental health. After all, smiling for photos, and tasting different holidays foods, would be difficult without healthy teeth and gums!