The holiday season is just about to get underway, which means it is time to bring out the stretchy pants and get ready for that delicious Thanksgiving turkey and all the wonderful side dishes next week. We asked Dr. Patty Martin to share some dental tips for the holiday to keep your teeth in tip-top shape all season long.
Brush and Floss after Eating -
We hope this is common sense, brush and floss after every meal. During Thanksgiving, we tend to over indulge at meal time and skip the diet for a day or two, but DO NOT skip brushing and flossing. The combination of food left on or around the teeth and bacteria causes tooth decay. So after chomping on that turkey leg or having that slice of pumpkin pie, be sure to brush and floss.
Drink Water While You Eat -
One of the worst things you can do to your teeth is snack all day. When you constantly snack, your saliva doesn’t have time to clean your clean, therefore bacteria continues to breed. Drink plenty of water during and in between meals to help wash away food particles.
Open Nuts with a Nutcracker and Don’t Open Bottles with Your Teeth -
It may sound funny now but how many people have you seen doing exactly that – using their teeth to crack open a nut or even open a beer bottle? “The average crown costs about $800. A case of beer costs about $20. A bottle opener costs less than that, use the opener,” says Dr. Patty Martin of Stone Creek Dental Care in Walla Walla.
Don’t Bite Candy Canes and Avoid Sticky Sweets -
After Thanksgiving, Christmas festivities begin and sweet treats like candy canes make their annual appearance. Dr. Martin says: “Be wary of hard sticky sweets like caramelized popcorn balls or candy brittle. A popcorn seed, nut, or hard piece of sticky sugar can easily break a cusp off a molar or fracture that huge metal filling you’ve had in that back tooth since you were 12.”
We hope you all have a great Thanksgiving with friends and family next week!
Dental Blog for Alder Family Dental Learn useful information for your dental health by subscribing to the dental blog of Stone Creek Dental Care. Alder Family Dental, 342 Catherine Street, Walla Walla, WA 99362 | (509)-525-9474 | alderfamilydental.com | 3/19/2023 | Page Phrases: Dental Blog, Dentist Walla Walla WA
