It seems like most holidays come with a side of dental bloopers. One common issue is the cracked tooth. You know the drill: Grannie and many others bake lots of goodies in the Christmas season and in order to keep things fresh, those delightful treats get shoved into the freezer. For those of us that like to live dangerously, there’s always an attempt to sneak a cookie or two from the abundance of treats. But being overzealous has its drawbacks. It’s disappointing to successfully complete part one of the mission only to get caught because a tooth gets chipped on a frozen chocolate chip or a walnut. Note to self: let the cookies sit out a bit and soften up before subjecting your teeth to them.
Sledding also has a way of shortening and sharpening teeth. Snow can be so much fun, but a tumble down the hill or direct contact between Billy’s tooth and Johnny’s head can cause all sorts of problems. It may sound silly, but wearing a mouth guard during these activities isn’t a bad idea to protect the teeth from potential injury.
But the most damaging and most commonly seen crime during holiday season is the dental plaque left on teeth after a late night where the toothbrush and floss get left unused. The most effective time to eliminate plaque from the teeth is in the evening just before going to bed. If this is followed up with a thorough brushing and flossing in the morning shortly after waking up, you can rebuild the health of your mouth.
From our family to yours, have a wonderful Christmas season and New Year! Above all, be safe and gentle on your pearly whites.
