![\"Woman](\"https:\/\/www.attractivesmiles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/dentist-13-300x200.jpg\")
<\/a>The upcoming weeks are an exciting time of year as you gather with family and friends to celebrate the holidays. As you plan meals and shop for the perfect gifts, your focus is not on your dental health. However, if you are not conscious about your smile throughout the holidays, it could lead to unfortunate news at your next appointment with your dentist. To keep your smile healthy during the holiday season, there are some simple tips to keep in mind.
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Most Americans do not have the best oral hygiene habits, but they can become even worse during the holiday months. Times get busy and you are often focused on other things. As a result, you may skip flossing or rush through brushing your teeth. While it may only be a few weeks, less than par oral hygiene habits during this time can lead to unexpected dental complications, like tooth decay and gum disease.<\/p>\n
During the holidays, your stress levels often increase, which can alter how well your body wards off infections and other complications. When you combine this with poor oral hygiene, you are opening the door to dental issues that could have otherwise been avoided.<\/p>\n
Although you may be limited on time, keep your dental health a priority. Brush your teeth twice a day and floss every night before going to bed to keep your smile healthy.<\/p>\n
No holiday gettogether is complete without plenty of food, including sweet treats and sugary snacks. While they may taste great, they are not only bad for your waistline, but your oral health as well. Sugar is a leading cause of tooth decay, even after a few days of overindulgence.<\/p>\n
When sugar combines with saliva, it turns to acid on your teeth, slowly eating away at your enamel in as little as 20 minutes. To protect your teeth, it is best to snack smart with low-fat dairy products or fresh fruits and vegetables.<\/p>\n
If you simply cannot resist your sweet tooth, be sure to brush your teeth immediately afterward. If that is not possible, rinse your mouth with water to help reduce any sugars left behind.<\/p>\n
The American Dental Association recommends that you visit your dentist every six months for a cleaning and checkup. If you have not been to the dentist recently, it is important to schedule an appointment before the end of the year. Although your schedule may be a bit chaotic, make the time for a preventive visit.<\/p>\n
With this simple holiday tips for a bright smile, you can enjoy the festivities while protecting your teeth and gums from damage.<\/p>\n
About Dr. Caitlin Glen McDonald Mercke<\/strong><\/p>\n Dr. Caitlin Glen McDonald Mercke<\/a> is committed to helping her patients achieve optimal oral health. Using state-of-the-art technology and her diverse skill-sets, she provides personalized solutions to help you reach your oral health goals. If you have any questions about protecting your smile during the holidays, contact Elite Dentistry today<\/a> to speak with a member of our team.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The upcoming weeks are an exciting time of year as you gather with family and friends to celebrate the holidays. As you plan meals and shop for the perfect gifts, your focus is not on your dental health. However, if you are not conscious about your smile throughout the holidays, it could lead to unfortunate […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[69,70],"class_list":["post-195","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general-dentistry","tag-dental-health","tag-holiday-tips-for-bright-smiles"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.attractivesmiles.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/195","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.attractivesmiles.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.attractivesmiles.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.attractivesmiles.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.attractivesmiles.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=195"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.attractivesmiles.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/195\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":197,"href":"https:\/\/www.attractivesmiles.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/195\/revisions\/197"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.attractivesmiles.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=195"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.attractivesmiles.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=195"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.attractivesmiles.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=195"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}