The holiday season brings joy, family gatherings, and plenty of delicious food—but it can also wreak havoc on your teeth if you’re not careful. Between festive treats, sugary cocktails, and disrupted routines, your oral health can take a backseat during Thanksgiving and the weeks that follow. At Arizona Biltmore Dentistry in Phoenix, Dr. Aaron Jeziorski wants to help you maintain a beautiful smile throughout the holiday festivities. Here are our best holiday dental tips to keep your teeth healthy and strong.
The Holiday Treats Challenge
Let’s be honest: holiday gatherings mean temptation. From pumpkin pie and candied sweet potatoes to chocolate truffles and gingerbread cookies, festive foods are everywhere. While we’re not asking you to skip dessert entirely, moderation is key. The main culprit isn’t just sugar itself—it’s how long sugar stays on your teeth. When you eat sticky candies or indulge in sugary treats throughout the day, you’re essentially bathing your teeth in acid and feeding harmful bacteria.
Our best advice? Enjoy your holiday favorites, but try to consume them during meals rather than grazing throughout the day. This gives your saliva a better chance to neutralize acids and protect your tooth enamel.
Protect Teeth During Holidays With Smart Beverage Choices
Holiday beverages are another sneaky threat to your teeth. Eggnog, mulled wine, cranberry punch, and sugary cocktails are acidic and packed with sugar. Even seemingly innocent options like hot chocolate can damage your enamel over time. If you’re going to enjoy these drinks, use a straw to minimize contact with your teeth, and follow up with water to rinse away residual sugars and acids.
Stick to Your Oral Hygiene Routine
Holiday schedules get hectic—traveling, hosting guests, and late-night celebrations can make it easy to skip brushing and flossing. However, maintaining your Thanksgiving oral health and overall dental routine is more important than ever during this season. Here’s what to prioritize:
- Brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste for two minutes
- Floss at least once daily, preferably before bed
- Rinse with water after meals and sugary drinks
- Pack a travel-size toothbrush and floss if you’ll be away from home
Stay Hydrated and Chew Sugar-Free Gum
Water is your teeth’s best friend during the holidays. Drinking plenty of water helps wash away food particles and sugars while keeping your mouth hydrated. Dry mouth increases your risk of cavities, so stay hydrated throughout holiday festivities.
If you can’t brush immediately after eating, sugar-free gum is a great alternative. Chewing sugar-free gum stimulates saliva production, which naturally protects your teeth from decay.
Avoid Using Your Teeth as Tools
The holiday rush can lead to quick fixes—like using your teeth to open packages or crack nuts. This is a common cause of chipped or cracked teeth during the season. Keep scissors handy and use proper tools for opening packages and cracking hard foods.
Schedule a Post-Holiday Checkup
After weeks of holiday indulgence, consider scheduling a checkup with Dr. Aaron Jeziorski at Arizona Biltmore Dentistry to address any concerns. Professional cleanings can remove buildup that brushing and flossing might have missed.
Following these holiday dental tips will help you protect your teeth during the holidays and keep your smile radiant through Thanksgiving and beyond. If you have any questions or want to schedule an appointment, call us at 602-957-8200. We’re here to help you maintain excellent oral health year-round!