Periodontist in Savannah Has Tips for a Healthy Holiday Smile

The holidays are a busy time of year. Often, as you are focused on gift wrapping, holiday travel plans, and family get togethers, your oral hygiene can easily become less of a priority. However, skipping out on brushing and flossing or overindulging on sweets can lead to oral health problems. As your periodontist in Savannah, we do not want to see you place the health of your teeth and gums at risk. We have simple tips to help you maintain a healthy holiday smile.

Don’t Forget to Brush and Floss

You always need to brush your teeth twice a day and floss daily. However, it can often be challenging during the holidays as you have a long list of things to do. Maintaining your oral hygiene during the holidays is very important. Often, at holiday get togethers you will be surrounded by sugary foods and drinks. The sugars will cling to your teeth, causing tooth decay and gum disease if not removed.

We understand that it can be difficult to brush and floss properly during the holidays, especially if you are traveling or a guest at someone’s house. To make your oral hygiene easier while traveling, purchase an oral hygiene travel kit. The kits are easy to carry along with you and will contain everything you need to maintain your oral hygiene routine. However, if you are not able to brush immediately, rinse your mouth with water or chew gum to try to cleanse some of the plaque and bacteria from your teeth.

For those who have dentures or other oral appliances, make sure you take the proper cleansing products and protective cases along with you when traveling. If you do not properly clean your oral appliances, such as your dentures, it can lead to irritation and infection of the gums.

Skip the Sweets and Snacks

Holiday gatherings contain a lot of options for yummy snacks and treats. However, if you do not limit your consumption of these sugary treats, you increase your risk for tooth decay and gum disease. Instead of cookies and cakes, choose fruits and vegetables whenever possible. In addition, cheese is a great alternative that will not just cleanse your teeth, but provide you with calcium to keep your teeth strong. Whenever possible, choose water as a drink instead of egg nog, soda, or alcohol.

Visit Your Dentist

You need to visit your dentist every 6 months for a cleaning and checkup. To ensure your smile stays healthy during the holidays, schedule your cleaning and checkup now for a healthy holiday smile. We will evaluate the health of your gums to prevent any dental complications during the holidays. We will restore the health and appearance of your gums with periodontal therapy.

As your dentist and periodontist, we want to see you maintain your oral health throughout the year. Contact Savannah Periodontics today to schedule an appointment before the holidays. If you are concerned about your oral care during the holidays, we can discuss additional tips to protect your oral health.