{"id":85,"date":"2019-12-05T15:13:00","date_gmt":"2019-12-05T15:13:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.statecollegedentalhealth.com\/blog\/?p=85"},"modified":"2025-07-28T16:06:52","modified_gmt":"2025-07-28T16:06:52","slug":"7-tips-from-a-dentist-to-improve-your-oral-health-over-the-holidays","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.statecollegedentalhealth.com\/blog\/2019\/12\/05\/7-tips-from-a-dentist-to-improve-your-oral-health-over-the-holidays\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Tips From a Dentist To Improve Your Oral Health Over the Holidays"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.statecollegedentalhealth.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Smiling-people-at-a-holiday-party--1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Smiling people at a holiday party\" class=\"wp-image-86\" width=\"379\" height=\"252\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.statecollegedentalhealth.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Smiling-people-at-a-holiday-party--1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.statecollegedentalhealth.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Smiling-people-at-a-holiday-party--300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.statecollegedentalhealth.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Smiling-people-at-a-holiday-party--768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.statecollegedentalhealth.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Smiling-people-at-a-holiday-party-.jpg 1192w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 379px) 100vw, 379px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The holidays only come around once a year. And if you\u2019re like most people, you want to enjoy them! The only problem is that too much merry-making can lead to cavities. Fortunately, however, indulging in cookies, cakes, and eggnog doesn\u2019t mean your smile has to suffer. By using a few helpful tricks at this time of year, you can keep your teeth and gums healthy and avoid unexpected visits to a dentist in State College. Keep reading for 7 easy tips you can use to enjoy the holidays without wrecking your oral health!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Eat the Right Foods At Holiday Parties&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In between sweet treats at parties, eat a piece of cheese. With natural compounds that counteract sugars and acids, it\u2019s a great way to prevent cavities. You can also reach for crunchy vegetables like carrots and celery, which have a scrubbing action that naturally keeps your teeth clean.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Make Plain Water Your Main Beverage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since you\u2019re eating more sugar than usual at this time of year, try to primarily drink plain water instead of sweet beverages like soda and juice. You\u2019ll not only stay better hydrated, you\u2019ll also wash away the sugars on your teeth after meals and snacks and prevent cavities.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Don\u2019t Use Your Teeth As Tools&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Need to open a bottle or package or crack nuts? Use the proper tools for these jobs and protect your teeth and dental work from harm.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Keep In Mind That Timing Matters<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s true that the amount of sugar you consume is important. But did you know that how&nbsp;<em>often&nbsp;<\/em>you\u2019re eating sugar matters just as much? Snacking, grazing, and sipping on sweet foods and beverages is a recipe for getting cavities, so try to enjoy them in a relatively short window of time or with a meal.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Be Careful With Sticky Foods<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sticky foods adhere to your teeth. And when sugar is involved, you\u2019re at high risk for tooth decay. If you have something sticky like peanut brittle or pecan pie, try to brush your teeth as soon as possible afterward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. Keep Oral Hygiene Supplies On Hand<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since brushing isn\u2019t always an option when you\u2019re on the go, carry sugar-free gum with you. It\u2019s not a substitute for brushing but it does stimulate salivary flow, which washes away plaque and sugar and neutralizes the acids that cause cavities. It\u2019s also a good idea to keep an extra container of floss on hand to use after meals or snacks away from home.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. Schedule a Visit With Your Dentist&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you want to minimize the chances of a holiday dental emergency, scheduling a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.statecollegedentalhealth.com\/preventive-dentistry.html\">checkup and cleaning<\/a>&nbsp;is one of the most important things you can do. This way, a dentist in State College can find problems early on, before they\u2019ve caused pain, and treat them with relatively simple procedures. Not to mention that a professional cleaning before the holidays will help your smile look its best.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With these 7 tips, you can enjoy yourself over the holidays, without jeopardizing your oral health!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Author<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.statecollegedentalhealth.com\/meet-the-dentist.html\">Dr. Kevin Labosky<\/a>&nbsp;is a family dentist in State College with over 20 years of experience and a graduate of Temple University School of Dentistry. He firmly believes that with the right tips and tricks, everyone can enjoy the holidays and keep their teeth and gums healthy at the same time. If you have any questions about your oral health during the holidays, he can be reached via his&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.statecollegedentalhealth.com\/contact.html\">website.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The holidays only come around once a year. And if you\u2019re like most people, you want to enjoy them! The only problem is that too much merry-making can lead to cavities. Fortunately, however, indulging in cookies, cakes, and eggnog doesn\u2019t mean your smile has to suffer. By using a few helpful tricks at this time [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-85","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>7 Tips From a Dentist To Improve Your Oral Health Over the Holidays<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Want to stay cavity-free this holiday season? 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