Christmas is around the corner, which means the delicious meals and mouth-watering treats are too! Holidays and festivities during the last quarter of the year are a reason for joy and spark around the world. Families and friends come together to celebrate occasions like Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas in full swing. However, with all the traveling, candies, wine, and turkey, people tend to binge eat and get a little irresponsible towards their dental hygiene. 

You can enjoy the festivities every year, but if you trade your dental hygiene for the treats, your oral health may never be the same again. You can celebrate and eat to your heart’s content, alongside practicing good oral hygiene habits. We have some tips for your dental care during the holidays!

Dental Hygiene- The Do’s and Don’ts Nobody would deny you or your kids' candy during Halloween. Those tiny little dressed-up munchkins knocking door to door are the cutest thing to witness during the festive night. However, when they get a tad too many treats, they might just binge eat them for the next few days, increasing the risk of dental problems. Dental caries are already prevalent in kids, and the sticky, sugary treats might just make the teeth more susceptible to tooth decay.

Similarly, with all the turkey, meat, and desserts on Thanksgiving and Christmas, the adult might be too busy in eating and drinking that they overlook their dental health. Neglecting your dental hygiene during the holidays can have the following consequences:

* Increased risk of dental caries (tooth decay) *Dental erosion- due to excessive consumption of wine and carbonated drinks *Teeth staining and discoloration *Initiation of gum diseases *Broken teeth due to chewing on hard substances, opening soda bottles with teeth, and unforeseen accidents

You must be wondering what leads to all of the dental problems. Well, our oral cavity has an in-built mechanism in which the saliva rinses off the food debris and bacteria-produced acids after every meal to protect the teeth. Timely brushing and dental flossing help with dental hygiene. However, during Halloween or traveling during the holidays, we tend to eat frequently and brush not so frequently. The saliva cannot rinse off the bacteria and food debris that keep coming back. Therefore, it leads to plaque accumulation- buildup of a sticky layer on the teeth and the gum line that harbor the bacteria. With the not-so-good dental hygiene, the acids produced by the bacteria damage the teeth, followed by a plethora of dental problems. Poor oral health can also lead to many systematic issues because your mouth is the gateway for bacteria and diseases for your body.   Dental Care Tips to Improve Dental Hygiene Do not feel bad about missing the delicacies during the holidays, we do not mean to break your heart. We want people to celebrate every occasion with great oral and overall health. Therefore, we have summed up some handy dental care tips that are easy to practice even if you are traveling. You do not have to reduce the quantity; you have to reduce the frequency. When you and your kids consume the sweet treats during Halloween, do it in one go and then rinse your mouth rigorously with water (you can also brush your teeth). You do not have to reduce the quantity; you have to reduce the frequency.

*Brush twice regularly. No matter how late you slept or hung-over you are in the morning, never miss brushing your teeth twice daily for two minutes. *Use dental floss and mouthwash. Food tends to get stuck in between the tiny spaces in your teeth and is not removed by brushing. Therefore, use dental floss to clean the interdental areas, followed by a dentist-recommended mouthwash to improve your dental and gum health. *Rinse your mouth with water after every meal or treat. You tend to receive many invites on the holidays that mean many meals with friends and family in one day. It can be a hassle to brush your teeth after meals and while traveling. Therefore, the easiest way to maintain your dental hygiene is to take a sip or two of water and rinse your mouth rigorously. *Do not suck on sticky candies or sugary treats. If you just tend to chew on bubble gums or suck on lollipops while wandering in the streets on Halloween, do not do that. It will make your mouth a perfect home for dental problems. However, if you are habitual of it, just go for the sugar-free gums and candies. *Keep yourself hydrated. Holidays and festivals can be draining, especially if you are the host. A dry mouth can also cause many dental problems compromising dental hygiene. Even if you are busy or out on the streets, keep a water bottle with you and take little sips of water often. *Do not miss your dentist’s appointment. Consult your dentist before the holidays for a complete dental health evaluation and a better understanding about dental hygiene. *If you are traveling, do not forget your brush and floss.

Happy Holidays You can enjoy the holidays with utmost enthusiasm and eat your favorite meals all you want. Just follow the dental care tips to maintain good dental hygiene and save your teeth’s health for the next year's festivities. No teeth, no treats- simple as that.