{"id":337,"date":"2021-11-22T14:42:38","date_gmt":"2021-11-22T19:42:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.waylanddental.com\/blog\/?p=337"},"modified":"2021-11-23T12:40:09","modified_gmt":"2021-11-23T17:40:09","slug":"oral-health-during-holidays-bad-habits-tooth-decay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.waylanddental.com\/blog\/2021\/11\/oral-health-during-holidays-bad-habits-tooth-decay\/","title":{"rendered":"How You Can Protect Your Teeth While Enjoying Holiday Treats"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Gingerbread<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The holidays bring their fair share of extended family members and decorations but that\u2019s hardly the only thing you can expect during the colder months of the year. It also means foods that you don\u2019t normally have decide to make an appearance on your family\u2019s dinner table and kitchen counters, including cookies, cake, pie, hard candies, chocolates, and other foods containing a ton of sugar. While the foods themselves play a role in harming your oral health<\/a>, other habits can also increase your risk. Learn what they are from a dentist and how you can protect yourself ahead of the holidays!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The Biggest Cavity Culprits<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As if getting over Halloween wasn\u2019t already hard enough, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hannukah, and other holidays in the winter months bring tons of baked goods packed with high amounts of sugar and starch. The sugar in these foods gets broken down by oral bacteria after consumption, which in turn create plaque acids as a form of waste. This acid sticks to teeth and collects over time, turning into plaque and tartar that cause cavities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, many people don\u2019t realize that how<\/em> you eat food can have just as much of an impact on your oral health as what <\/em>you eat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Snacking Throughout the Day<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Whether you\u2019re eating sweets throughout the workday or munching on leftovers from your last big family dinner, you should keep in mind that eating constantly rather than in separate meals can put additional stress on your teeth and gums. This is because your mouth isn\u2019t given a chance to produce enough saliva to neutralize bacteria and clean food debris from your teeth. If you want to avoid a higher risk for cavities, breaking this habit ahead of the holidays is crucial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sudden Changes to Your Routine (Going on Vacation)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Another commonly overlooked habit is sudden changes to your oral care routine, which generally occurs when you\u2019re traveling. It\u2019s easy to forget your toothbrush (and therefore not brush your teeth the whole time you\u2019re on vacation) or stay up too late and heading straight to bed without practicing your dental due diligence. Oral hygiene matters no matter where you\u2019re sleeping for the night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Healthy Tips to Take Ahead of Time<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

By keeping the following tips in mind now, you can reduce your risk of developing any dental problems ahead of the new year:<\/p>\n\n\n\n