What to do and not do during the holidays

The holidays are coming up, and while they’re great to spend with family, temptation is often calling your name, especially in terms of food. This doesn’t just affect the body, but it can affect your smile as well. However, you don’t have to deprive yourself just to have a killer grin, here’s how you can have an awesome holiday experience.

Now first, you should call the dentist when you need to. If you’ve cracked a tooth, or have a cavity, you should definitely go see your dentist in Santa Clarita. Often, you might need to have an appointment concierge system used in order to find a dentist that can help you during this time of the year. However, if you notice this, don’t be afraid to talk to the dentist, for you can thank yourself for doing so early. You should try to also set up cleaning appointments in December or January, especially with the holidays coming up. December is ideal, for it can help prevent damage.

Now also, don’t neglect brushing habits. You should brush and floss at least twice a day, ideally after every meal. Don’t let that fall out of practice cause of holiday parties and shopping. Instead, you should brush more often, and make sure that if you aren’t heading home for whatever reason, you make sure that you bring a toothbrush and some floss with you. An electric toothbrush is also ideal if you’re looking to clean your teeth in the best manner.

Now, you should try to stay away from sugary stuff, whether it be cookies candies, or even taffy. This is how you destroy your enamel and the bacteria will begin to grow. Now, that doesn’t mean you have to completely devoid yourself of sugar. There are other alternatives, such as having gingerbread cookies or oatmeal or nut-based treats since they have a lot less sugar in it. Pumpkin pie should be chosen over pecan pie, since it is very low in sugar, and you don’t have to worry about your teeth chipping. If you do eat yams, try to leave off the fixings, and instead have them naturally or with butter. If you really do want to have something sugary though, definitely do make sure that you have some cranberries nearby, since they can prevent cavities.

Now, don’t snack between meals. It’s so easy to do this during the holidays, but instead stick with the schedule that you have. Not only can this hurt your teeth, since often the snacks that we have are sugary, but they also cause weight gain as well. If you do feel the temptation, start to keep your hands busy with crafting, taking a walk outside, or even just having a healthy snack such as some yogurt that isn’t sweetened or even something that can hurt your teeth. Also, replace the sugary drinks with water during the day, since often we’re tempted to do that.

When you have holiday parties, you should pay attention to where you are. Often, we tend to hover around where the snacks are, which means that you’re eating lots and lots of sugar. You should pay attention to what you eat. If you do go to a party, sometimes even looking at what is healthy and what’s not is great, since you’ll know what to nibble on. Ideally, try to have lots of veggies, stuff with low sugar, and peppermint candies that will help with your appetite satiation without hurting how your mouth looks. You should stick to water instead of alcoholic drinks and sugary ones. This will allow you to stay hydrated and have less sugar.

Most of all, have some fun. The holidays are meant to be that, and you can still totally have a boatload of fun while still being mindful of your health. By doing this, you’ll allow yourself the chance to really improve on your own health and wellness. Definitely talk to your dentist in Santa Clarita for more help if you need it, but most of all, take care of yourself, and do what is right for you, allowing you to have the best and healthiest holiday.