PROTECTING YOUR FAMILY’S TEETH FROM CHRISTMAS SUGAR

Are you worried about damaging your teeth this Christmas? If not, just think about all the sugar your family will eat. That’s why you need to call our Birmingham, AL dental office today at 205-545-8007 and schedule dental cleanings and dental exams. By coming to see our dental team, you can get your teeth professionally clean and make sure there are no surprises with your oral health.

Cavities And Gum Disease Do Not Make Good Presents

Each Christmas, people break out all kinds of tasty treats and drinks. You get family and friends together for a party or holiday dinner, and there will be plenty of sugar at hand. That can be a problem for your family’s smiles.

The bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease can live on just about anything — but they thrive on sugar and carbs. The more your family enjoys Christmas treats like sugar cookies, gingerbread, and desserts, the more they end up feeding those bacteria.

That’s why it’s important to call us today and schedule an appointment for your whole family. Dental cleanings from our highly trained hygienists will remove plaque and tartar, helping both teeth and gums stay healthy. Dental exams from our experienced dentists can spot problems while they’re still small and easier to manage.

How To Protect Your Family’s Smiles This Christmas

– Don’t let anyone use their teeth as tools.

Sometimes, packages are hard to open. It can be a bit tough at times to even wrap presents. Some people use their teeth to tear open packages, rip tape, and so on. To protect your family’s teeth this Christmas, explain to them that this is a bad idea.

Anything so strong that you need your teeth to rip it apart could hurt your gums. Your teeth could also slam together hard, possibly damaging them. Use scissors or get some help if you have trouble with packages and presents this year.

– Stick with your brushing and flossing routines, even if you travel.

Kids often need routines to help them remember things. Many adults need them for that same reason. Things can get pretty hectic around the holidays, especially if you’re traveling to the grandparents’ house.

Make sure you pack everyone’s toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss. Even if you’re staying home, you may want to place them on people’s beds as a reminder to clean their teeth and gums before going to bed.

– Throw away the candy canes.

While it’s true that candy canes are a Christmas tradition, they’re also almost pure sugar. As you suck on them, you liquidize the sugar. This coats your teeth and gums in the food that harmful bacteria love the most.

Plus, the end can get quite sharp and can hurt someone’s gums. There will be plenty of sweet-tasting treats at Christmas. Getting rid of one that’s particularly bad for your family’s smiles should not ruin the holidays.

– Pass on the sticky sweets.

Along the same lines, there will probably be plenty of desserts, cookies, and the like around the holidays. Of course, you should enjoy some of these. But try to keep everyone away from sticky sweets like caramel or toffee.

Because they’re so sticky, your family will end up with sugar literally stuck to their teeth and gums. When you eat those kinds of sweets, you’re just laying out the dinner table for harmful bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease.

– Drink plenty of water and rinse after eating.

Even non-sugary foods leave behind food particles around your teeth. That’s an inevitable part of eating. To help with this, your family should drink plenty of water. Saliva helps wash away those food particles, but that’s not going to happen if they’re dehydrated.

Rinsing with water after eating is actually better than brushing. That’s because any acidic foods like fruit will leave acid on your teeth. Brushing right afterward will just push that acid in deeper.

Call us TODAY at 205-545-8007 or use our online form to schedule dental cleanings and dental exams for after Christmas. This season makes it harder for your family to maintain their healthy teeth and gums. Dental cleanings at our Birmingham, AL dental office can prevent problems, while our thorough dental exams can spot cavities and gum disease while both are easier (and cheaper) to treat.