Tis the season to be jolly — and to protect your teeth. The holiday season brings plenty of opportunities to celebrate with friends and family, but indulging in too many sweet treats or high-risk activities can put your teeth at risk.

You can still fully enjoy the magic of the holidays while prioritizing your smile with the help of your friendly endodontists at the Endodontic Specialists of Colorado. Read on to learn what your endodontist wants you to know about protecting your teeth around the holidays.

Eat Tooth-Friendly Foods

Candy canes, cookies, and gingerbread — there’s nothing better than holiday treats! While it’s perfectly fine to enjoy seasonal spreads in moderation, too many sweets can increase your risk of dental cavities. There are other common risk factors that play a role in developing cavities, but the food you consume makes a big difference.

During the holiday season, prioritize getting plenty of fruits, vegetables, and healthy proteins. Avoid hard, sticky foods that could damage your teeth — like popcorn — and focus on drinking lots of water instead of sugary sodas or hot cocoa.

Instead of constantly grazing on sweet treats at the holiday buffet, choose one dessert to limit your teeth’s exposure to sugar, and try to brush your teeth as soon as you can following a celebration.

Protect Your Pearly Whites

When you’re in a pinch during a holiday celebration, you might be tempted to use your teeth to open a package while unwrapping gifts, or to shell nuts by the fire. But do your smile a favor and instead take the time to find a pair of scissors for stubborn packaging and a nutcracker for your favorite snack.

Should a dental mishap like a cracked tooth or toothache occur, know who to call. Contact your general dentist during normal office hours, and have an emergency back-up plan ready. You never know when you’ll need it! Check out our post on what are considered dental emergencies for help.

Keep Up With Your Oral Health Habits

The best way to protect your teeth around the holidays is to stick to your existing healthy dental habits. Keeping up with regular oral hygiene — including brushing and flossing your teeth at least twice per day — and regularly visiting your dentist for cleanings and exams is the best way to prevent dental decay.

If you can help it, don’t delay treatment or push off your standing appointments for dental cleanings and exams. We know that schedules get busy around the holidays, and keeping an appointment with your general dentist or endodontist can be tricky. But delaying your dental healthcare comes with a high price. In addition to the monetary cost of postponing treatment, you also run the risk of damaging your overall health as well. If problems like periodontitis and gum disease go untreated, you risk developing diabetes, heart disease, or stroke. With these additional health problems in mind, you’ll also have accrued medical costs for medical issues that may have otherwise been prevented.

Prevention is key when it comes to fending off dental decay and protecting your teeth during the holidays. Allowing a dental cavity to go untreated could lead to an infection, which may require root canal therapy or even the loss of the tooth. If you’re experiencing tooth pain or any signs of concern with your teeth over the holidays, be sure to reach out to your general dentist or endodontist. You don’t need to spend the holidays in pain.

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Here at Endodontic Specialists of Colorado, our team does everything we can to help our patients keep their natural teeth and restore their smiles. We specialize in making endodontic treatments as comfortable as possible.

Contact us today to learn more about how to protect the teeth — around the holidays or anytime — and schedule an evaluation and learn how we can restore your smile and relieve your pain!