The holidays are basically upon us, and that can mean a lot of different things to different people. But what it often has in common across the board is that we get a little bit of a break from the routine of things and the opportunity to overindulge.

The holidays bring sweets and excess from all angles — work parties with baking, and get togethers with more alcohol than usual, big meals with desserts, and so on. Plus having time off work or life feeling a bit more slack can mean that good habits might get put on hold, too.

Taking some time to relax and take it easy is a good thing! And, with a little bit of effort, it doesn’t mean that your oral health has to suffer — even if you have a sweet tooth. Here are some tips to help you take good care of your teeth and gums, even while you are enjoying the holidays to the fullest.

Pack travel size 

A lot of people travel over the holidays, or they are visiting from place to place and eating and drinking at every single stop. If you are going to be away from home and hitting up multiple festivities, it’s a great idea to bring a little travel kit containing a travel size toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss.

This way, you can still give your teeth and gums some attention and remove the build up of sugar. When sugar is left on the teeth for too long, your teeth begin to decay because harmful bacteria live off of it. So the quicker you can remove the plaque, the better.

Give the gift of oral health

If you are exchanging gifts or packing stockings, why not give presents that encourage oral health in others — a high quality electric toothbrush or mouthwash. And packs of floss and toothbrushes make perfect stocking stuffers!

Practice moderation

It’s a good habit to get into to practice moderation, especially the older you get. As we age, our metabolism slows down, and things in our bodies don’t rebound  and heal quite so quickly. This is true with our gums and teeth, and so moderation is a type of prevention. By not adding more than is needed — sugar, alcohol, gravy — upkeep is easier.

Choose healthy

At most meals and events, there is a range of options for snacking and drinking. As much as the baking tray is appealing, it’s a good idea to at least balance it out with some veggies. Or to sip on a glass of water between each drink. There are always decisions to be made, and it usually feels better in the long run when we choose some healthful options.

Keep up with some good habits

While it might seem easy and appealing for everything to go out the window while on holidays, it’s good to remember that it might be harder to come back to good habits later on. So it’s probably easier to stay in routine, at least with a few things, like brushing and flossing your teeth before bed. 

Schedule your new year dental appointment now

To keep your mind focused on your oral health, it’s a great idea to get a check up with your dentist in the books before their calendar begins to fill up. Even if you have recently had a cleaning, it’s great to have one in the schedule and to write it on your calendar. It’s always good motivation knowing that you have a dentist appointment on the horizon — that’s usually when people really start getting serious about their flossing!

We hope that everyone has a great time over the holidays, whatever that looks like for you. Whether it’s with family, friends, or a solo trip somewhere tropical, everyone needs a bit of a break. But during that time, investing in health is a great idea, especially when we are otherwise encouraged to overindulge and have all of our hard-won good habits go out the window. So don’t forget to brush and floss while you are enjoying those holiday treats.

If you are looking for a dentist in the South Surrey or White Rock areas, we would love to connect with you. In the meantime, we wish you a happy and safe holiday season!