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The busy holiday season may disrupt many people's daily routines, but it is important during this time of the year to remember to look after your teeth. With the added stress levels and busy schedules, you may forget the most basic of oral hygiene tasks that can counteract the effects of sugary snacks and drinks this holiday season. Avoid tooth damage and decay caused by wine, sweets and stress by making your oral health a top priority during the holidays. Holidays are filled with family, friends, and most importantly - food. Eating and enjoying wine during the holidays can bring your smile to an unsightly shade of Pinot Noir, but if you follow some easy tips this holiday season, your smile can stay as bright as your spirits. Take extra precautions to remain smiling all season long. Watch What You Eat and Drink During the holidays we often drink red and white wines, and eat holiday goodies such as cookies, chocolate and candy canes. As much as these are all tempting, it is important to take extra care of your teeth to avoid stains and other damage to your teeth. To reduce the risk of damage from drinking red and white wines this season, which are highly acidic and can eat away at a tooth's enamel, refrain from swishing wine around in your mouth. You can also drink water between glasses of wine to rinse the acid from your teeth and reduce the risk of further damage. When the holiday sweets tempt you, take extra precautions as well because the sugars in those treats promote the growth of cavity-causing bacteria. If you can't brush or floss after eating sweet treats, drink water or chew a piece of sugarless gum, which will increase saliva flow and help wash away the bacteria. Watch Out for Holiday Stressors Holiday stress can cause some people to grind or clench their teeth, potentially resulting in chipped teeth, jaw pain and headaches. Finding ways to alleviate your anxiety can help, but it is also important to visit your dentist who can recommend solutions like a custom night guard. Bruxism is a condition is which you grind, gnash or clench your teeth. If you have bruxism, you may unconsciously clench your teeth together during the day or grind them at night. Bruxism may be mild and may not even require treatment. However, it can be frequent and severe enough to lead to jaw disorders, headaches, damaged teeth and other problems. So when the holiday stress kicks in, take a step back and find ways to calm your anxiety to further prevent teeth grinding. Simple Tips to Keep Your Holiday Smile Bright Whenever possible, brush your teeth soon after a meal if any of its components can stain. Think about food in terms of a white shirt - if what you have eaten will stain your white shirt, it will most likely stain your teeth. Give extra attention to the areas between your teeth as this is where stains tend to secure themselves and build up over time. The best way to keep these areas clear of stains is to floss every day. By flossing every day you remove the plaque and the stain molecules at the same time. Additionally, never skip bedtime brushing after a staining meal, either. You have already allowed maple time for the pigments to make themselves at home. Waiting until the next morning is as good as putting a finishing top coat over the stains. Contact your dentist in McAllen, TX for more tips on how to properly manage your oral hygiene this holiday season.
Dr. Jose Villarreal, dentist in McAllen, has been practicing dentistry in McAllen since graduation from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in 1995. Dr. Villarreal, McAllen dentist, received his undergraduate degree from Princeton University in 1985 and offers patients an array of dental services for optimal dental health care.
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