The holiday season is here. This is the time of the year when we eat Christmas cookies, sip hot cocoa and splurge on gifts. Some of us take the week off from work. Others spend a day or two at mom’s or grandma’s place in St. Petersburg.
Food is the common thread amongst all holiday get-togethers. There are plenty of temptations from candy canes to fudge, chocolate bark and yule logs. Don’t forget about the champagne, wine, eggnog and cocoa. This gluttony extends across two full months. Though most of us would like to stick to our diets, just about everyone ends up giving in. This means you’ll pack on some pounds. However, your holiday indulgence doesn’t have to harm your oral health. Take proper care of your mouth and keep your teeth and gums healthy for the holidays.
Dr. Ferullo’s Oral Health Tips for the Holidays
If you are like most people, you will enjoy at least a few glasses of wine during the holidays. Wine stains your teeth, lips, tongue and everything else it touches. If you drink red wine in a social setting, swig some water afterward. This way, you can open your mouth without feeling self-conscious about an embarrassing wine stain. Keep in mind that you’ll likely speak without reservation once the alcohol starts flowing at your holiday party in St. Petersburg. Rinse your mouth and your guests won’t remember you by your wine-stained mouth.
Wine isn’t the only tasty concoction that stains. Everything from beets to cranberries and other colorful treats will also stain. Rinse with water after enjoying these foods and your mouth won’t completely change colors. If you teeth are already discolored, consider making an appointment with us for teeth whitening in St. Petersburg. A white and winning smile is a great gift to give yourself this holiday season!
Your Downtown Dentist’s Advice for Holiday Eating: Don’t Wait to Clean Your Teeth
It is awfully tempting to vegetate on the couch in front of the TV after you’ve chowed down on a holiday dinner and dessert. Don’t sabotage your oral health by letting food and drink rest on your teeth and gums. Be proactive by brushing and flossing your teeth after enjoying your holiday meal. Try to clean your teeth within a half an hour of your meal. This way, you won’t leave food on your teeth and gums for an extended period of time. Clean those chompers sooner rather than later and you’ll drastically reduce the odds of Dr. Ferullo informing you that you suffer from tooth decay and/or gum disease.
Brushing and flossing will also freshen your mouth, giving you the confidence you need to speak without fear of food-induced halitosis. A thorough cleaning will also remove embarrassing bits of food stuck in between your teeth.
Don’t Give Yourself Excuses!
If you are attending a holiday dinner outside your home, it does not mean you can chow down and let food/drink rest on your teeth and gums for the remainder of the evening. Though you don’t have to bring toothpaste, a toothbrush and floss to the host’s residence, you can bring an interproximal brush, tooth pick or a travel size bottle of mouthwash.
The bottom line is you should not use the holidays as an excuse to consume copious amounts of food and drink and totally abandon your oral hygiene. Eat your share, socialize with others and excuse yourself to tend to your teeth. It is a short-term inconvenience that pays big dividends in the long-run. It just takes a few minutes of time to ensure you keep your teeth and gums healthy for the holidays.
Schedule an Appointment to Start Your New Year Right
Give yourself the gift of good oral health by following these quick and easy tips during the holidays and then schedule an appointment with Dr. Ferullo to start your New Year right. Schedule your appointment now and make your resolution of sticking with a good oral health routine in the upcoming year. Call us at 727-822-8101 for a clean start to the New Year and remember to take the time to ensure to keep your teeth and gums healthy for the holidays.
