The holiday season is a wonderful time filled with festive gatherings, delicious food, and quality time with loved ones. Amid the celebrations, however, it’s easy to let your oral health routine slide. The abundance of sugary treats and changes in your daily schedule can create the perfect storm for dental issues. The last thing you want is a painful dental emergency interrupting your holiday cheer.
At Corbin Dental, our family has been caring for the smiles of our neighbors in Bayside and Oyster Bay for generations. We want you to enjoy a happy and healthy holiday season. This guide will provide practical tips on how to protect your teeth, avoid common dental emergencies, and what to do if one occurs.
Be Mindful of Holiday Treats
Holiday spreads are often packed with sweets, from candy canes and cookies to pies and sugary cocktails. While enjoying these treats is part of the fun, moderation is key to protecting your teeth from decay.
The Sugar and Acid Problem
When you consume sugary foods and drinks, the bacteria in your mouth feed on the sugar, producing acid. This acid attacks your tooth enamel, the hard, protective outer layer of your teeth. Over time, repeated acid attacks can lead to cavities. Many festive beverages, like wine and certain fruit juices, are not only sugary but also highly acidic, posing a double threat to your enamel.
Tips for Indulging Wisely:
- Eat sweets with meals: Saliva production increases during meals, which helps rinse away food particles and neutralize harmful acids.
- Choose your treats carefully: Opt for less sticky sweets. Dark chocolate, for example, is a better choice than chewy caramels or hard candies that linger in your mouth.
- Rinse with water: After enjoying a sugary snack or drink, swish your mouth with water to help wash away sugar and acid.
Don’t Use Your Teeth as Tools
It’s tempting to use your teeth to open a bottle, rip open a package, or crack a stubborn nutshell when you can’t find the right tool. This is one of the most common causes of dental emergencies during the holidays. Your teeth are designed for chewing food, not for prying or tearing objects.
Using your teeth as a multi-tool can lead to serious consequences, including:
- Chipped or cracked teeth
- Broken fillings or crowns
- Jaw injuries
Always take a moment to find the proper tool for the job, whether it’s a pair of scissors, a bottle opener, or a nutcracker. Protecting your smile is worth the extra minute it takes to find the right equipment.
Maintain Your Oral Hygiene Routine
Late-night parties and travel can disrupt your normal schedule, making it easy to forget to brush and floss. However, maintaining your daily oral care routine is more important than ever during the holiday season.
Stick to the Basics
Make a conscious effort to brush your teeth at least twice a day for two minutes with a fluoride toothpaste and floss at least once daily. Brushing removes plaque and food particles, while flossing cleans the tight spaces between your teeth and under the gumline where your toothbrush can’t reach. If you’re traveling, pack a dental kit with a toothbrush, travel-sized toothpaste, and floss to keep your routine on track.
Stay Hydrated with Water
Amid the festive cocktails, sodas, and juices, don’t forget to drink plenty of water. Water is essential for your overall health and plays a critical role in your oral health.
Staying hydrated helps your body produce enough saliva, which is your mouth’s first line of defense against tooth decay. Saliva washes away food debris, neutralizes acids produced by bacteria, and helps repair early-stage tooth decay. Drinking water, especially after meals and snacks, helps keep your mouth clean and your smile bright.
Schedule a Pre-Holiday Checkup
One of the best ways to prevent a dental emergency is to address potential problems before they escalate. Scheduling a dental checkup and cleaning at Corbin Dental before the holiday rush is a proactive step toward a worry-free season.
During your visit, we can:
- Identify and treat any existing decay or gum issues.
- Check the stability of crowns, fillings, and other dental work.
- Perform a professional cleaning to remove stubborn plaque and tartar.
Starting the season with a clean bill of oral health gives you peace of mind, allowing you to focus on what truly matters: enjoying time with family and friends.
What to Do in a Dental Emergency
Even with the best precautions, accidents can happen. Knowing how to respond can make a significant difference in the outcome.
Common Dental Emergencies and First Aid:
- Toothache: Rinse your mouth with warm salt water and gently floss to remove any trapped food. Do not apply aspirin directly to the tooth or gums. Contact us for an appointment.
- Chipped or Broken Tooth: Rinse your mouth with warm water and save any pieces of the tooth you can find. Apply a cold compress to the outside of your mouth to reduce swelling and call our office immediately.
- Knocked-Out Tooth: Hold the tooth by the crown (the chewing surface), not the root. If possible, rinse it gently without scrubbing and try to place it back in the socket. If that’s not possible, place it in a small container of milk or your own saliva and contact us immediately. Time is critical for saving the tooth.
- Lost Filling or Crown: Save the crown if you can. You can try to temporarily reattach it using dental cement from a pharmacy, but do not use household glues. Call our office to schedule a repair.
If you experience a dental emergency, don’t hesitate to call Corbin Dental. Our compassionate team is here to provide prompt and effective care to relieve your pain and restore your smile.
Enjoy a Bright and Healthy Holiday with Corbin Dental
At Corbin Dental, we are committed to being your partner in lifelong oral health. We understand that your comfort and well-being are paramount, especially during the busy holiday season. Whether you need a routine checkup, are considering cosmetic enhancements like porcelain veneers, or require urgent care, our experienced team is here for you. We even offer sedation dentistry to ensure a comfortable and stress-free experience for anxious patients.
Schedule Your Consultation
To book a consultation for any of your dental questions, contact the offices of Corbin Dental at our Bayside office at 516-604-5074 or our Oyster Bay office at 516-613-3084, or use our simple online form.