3 Ways to Keep Smiles Healthy for Your 2023 Dental Visit

It’s no secret that the holidays can be hard on your smile. Your teeth are often exposed to greater amounts of sugar and starch because of all the delectable dishes gracing tables at family and friends. But if you’re interested in keeping your teeth free of cavities this year so that you can have a positive dental checkup in 2023, a dentist in Weyauwega is here to share three tips you can keep in mind while enjoying the season.

Reduce Your Snacking

It’s easy to walk around your grandmother’s house and snack on all the delicious homemade goodies, but this is one of the easiest and quickest ways to develop tooth decay and cavities. Allowing harmful particles to remain on your teeth for extended periods will only lead to bacteria and plaque eating away at your tooth enamel. Instead, choose snacks that are more filling and least likely to cause problems over time. Fresh fruits, raw vegetables, and lean proteins are great for staying full, and they’re beneficial for your oral and overall health.

Drink Plenty of Water

Instead of downing glass after glass of soda, wine, or fruit juices, why not fill up on water and stay hydrated this holiday season? Not only will it help to keep your belly full, but it will flush out any bacteria and food debris that tries to adhere to teeth. Water is a great way to improve your oral and overall health, and it doesn’t pose any threat to your tooth enamel. Instead, it works to stimulate your salivary glands, which are necessary for neutralizing harmful acids that eat away at the outermost layer of your teeth.

Stick to Your Normal Oral Hygiene Routine

It’s tempting to neglect your oral hygiene routine when visiting family and friends during the holiday season, but if you want a good checkup in 2023, it’s best that you stick to your normal morning and nighttime regimes. Brushing twice each day for two minutes, flossing, and rinsing are all essential components to minimizing plague accumulations and ultimately, cavities. The last thing you want to hear from your dentist is that you need restorative care to fix dental caries that formed in recent months, so if you want to avoid dental crowns, fillings, or other, more serious dental treatments (i.e., tooth extractions), make sure you take proper care of your teeth and gums while vacationing during the holidays.

Keeping these three helpful tips in mind will give your smile a greater chance of looking and feeling its best in the new year. If you would like additional help to better safeguard your pearly whites, don’t hesitate to reach out to your dentist before kicking off the holidays with family and friends.

About the Author
Dr. William Twohig has dedicated his life to practicing dentistry and searching for alternative methods to offer his patients. With a breadth of available services designed to combat tooth decay, gum disease, and other common problems, he can help to improve you and your family’s overall health and well-being using natural methods of treatment. If you want to make sure that your smile is in good shape as you head into the holiday season, visit our website or call (920) 867-3101.