Thanksgiving is almost here – the perfect time for all of us at Mitchell Dentistry to reflect upon what we are grateful for this season. While many have faced difficult challenges over the past year including uncertainty and isolation, we are ready to move forward with a brighter view for the holiday season, the New Year, and beyond.
And we have much to celebrate! Our Mitchell Dentistry family continues to create a kind, compassionate, welcoming atmosphere for both our team and our patients. As always, we enjoy the relationships we build and nurture with our patient families – new patients as well as the ones we have cared for for many generations. Finally, we are thankful for the latest advances in state-of-the-art technology that helps us perform our jobs with accuracy and excellence, providing our patients with the best dental care in the industry.
We hope our patients also have much to be grateful for this Thanksgiving, and will be able to spend time with friends and family over the holidays. In addition to feeling thankful, this is also a time to feast on a variety of delicious foods, some of which are not the healthiest choices. We can’t help offering just a bit of advice: You don’t have to sacrifice an enjoyable holiday to still pay attention to your dental care. Here are five tips to maintaining your healthy smile while enjoying a happy holiday.
1.
Keep meal time to a reasonable timeframe. Long lingering meals result in continuous exposure to the acids in food, allowing cavity-causing bacteria to build up in your mouth. Think about finishing the meal, and then focus on playing games, sharing stories, or watching movies instead of non-stop nibbling.
2.
Stay hydrated. It’s always a good idea to drink lots of water, but especially when you’re eating lots of rich, sweet foods. Staying hydrated can help wash away debris and prevent plaque formation. In addition to providing a light rinse for your mouth between bites, drinking water helps improve your saliva flow, which further fights cavities. Water is also an excellent replacement for more damaging drink options like juice or soda.
3.
Brush and floss. Remember your dental hygiene on Thanksgiving. If you are at home, remember to brush and floss after you’ve finished eating. If you are at a friend or family member’s home, a quick rinse of your mouth in the restroom will help reduce bacteria on your teeth. Chewing sugarless gum is also a good way to wipe away leftover food particles, improve your saliva flow, and assist with your digestion.
4.
Ditch the sticky stuff. Offenders like cranberry relish, pecan pie and mashed potatoes are acidic, sweet, and stick to your teeth for hours to come, creating an ideal environment for bacteria to infect your gums and eat through your enamel. If one of these is your favorite, just make sure you swish with water after eating and brush your teeth to wipe away the gummy remains.
5.
Make a post-holiday cleaning appointment. We all know the holiday season can be bad for your weight, but the desserts and long meals are also tough on your teeth. If you’re concerned about caries or gum disease, simply call our office to schedule an appointment. Our hygiene team is on standby to scrub your teeth back to perfection. That way, you can avoid any issues before they become uncomfortable or costly.
Having beautiful, healthy teeth is certainly something else to add to the list of what we are thankful for this holiday season. And we are very grateful to all of you, our wonderful patients!
As always, please call us with any questions or concerns. We love your feedback, so feel free to send your comments our way.
Happy Thanksgiving!
All the best,
Dr. Jim, Dr. Yolanda, and Dr. Joe