The holiday season can be filled with specialty foods and drinks, snacks you rarely sample during other times of the year. We encourage you to enjoy your time with friends, family, and food, but be cautious of chewing mishaps that can lead to dental emergencies.
Continue reading to learn more.
Proper Chewing and Oral Health Practices for the Holidays
- Chewing Hard or Complex Foods: Your dentist in Anderson, SC, recommends chewing carefully and slowly. Be mindful of biting into pits and other hard foods suddenly. By chewing carefully, you can avoid chipping a tooth on hard or complex foods.
- Chewing with Restorations: If you have a crown or other restoration, avoid biting directly into taffy or other sticky treats, as this can loosen the restoration.
- Chewing with Dentures: We recommend chewing on both sides to reduce tilting and rocking. While a denture slip doesn’t typically lead to a dental emergency, it can still be embarrassing.
Other Best Practices This Holiday Season
- Brush and Floss Regularly: Brush and floss your teeth after every meal, or at least twice daily. When you clean your teeth, be mindful to clear debris from all sides and to spend enough time on your routine.
- Visit Your Dentist as Scheduled: If you have a dental checkup and teeth cleaning scheduled during the holidays, it may be tempting to reschedule. We encourage you to keep the appointment to ensure your smile is cavity-free and healthy.
- Keep Your Smile Hydrated: The best way to hydrate your smile is with water. Soda, Wine, and fruit juice are either sweet or acidic, which can lead to tooth decay when not removed by saliva.
- Schedule Your New Year Checkup and Teeth Cleaning: Finally, schedule your first checkup and teeth cleaning for the new year today. You can start 2026 with a clean bill of dental health—call (864) 226-6278 to get started.