Don’t let the holidays damage or discolor your teeth!

The holidays are full of sugar, alcohol and a whole host of other things that aren’t so good for your teeth. We all want beautiful, healthy smiles, and with a little extra attention and care, you can protect your beautiful smile throughout the holiday season. The following is a list from our dentist in Texarkana of tips to help you keep your teeth healthy and white over the holidays

#1. Avoid biting your nails.

Stress is certainly a common thing during the holiday season, but don’t resort to chewing your nails when you are feeling the stress. Chewing your nails is bad for both your nails and your teeth, and it’s not likely to help you find relief from your stress. Instead of chewing your nails, take 20 minutes to do some yoga or treat yourself to a massage.

#2. Keep a straw handy.

Wine, cocktails, soda and holiday drinks help to make the holidays special, but they can also be staining and damaging to your teeth. It’s always smart to limit these types of drinks, but you shouldn’t have to avoid them altogether. One of the best ways to indulge without affecting your teeth is to sip these drinks through a straw. This limits the contact with your teeth.

#3. Avoid hard or chewy candy.

If you didn’t get enough candy on Halloween, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to enjoy it over the next month or two. However, some candy is worse for your teeth than others, particularly hard or chewy candies that stay in your mouth for a long period of time, which exposes your teeth to sugar for longer. If something sweet will be in your mouth for longer than a few seconds, you should probably avoid it.

#4. Don’t use your teeth as tools.

Whether you’re ripping open wrapping paper or trying to get into a bag of Thanksgiving rolls, you should never use your teeth to do so. Your teeth are not tools, and they should never be used as tools. If you use your teeth as tools, you are likely to end up with cracks, breaks or other damage. Make sure you have scissors handy so that you won’t be tempted to use your teeth!

#5. Opt for healthier options.

While there is an abundance of sugary, fatty and otherwise not-so-healthy options during the holidays, there are plenty of holiday treats that are actually good for your teeth as well. Crunchy vegetables, like raw celery, carrots or broccoli, can actually help to clean your teeth as you chew! Plus many raw veggies are good sources of vitamin A, which helps to strengthen your enamel. Cheese is another delicious holiday treat that can actually be good for your teeth. It’s a good source of calcium, and it can help to balance the acidity in your mouth after consuming an alcoholic beverage.

The holidays can be hard on your teeth, but they don’t have to be! Please contact our dentist in Texarkana if you need any help with taking great care of your teeth this holiday season!