The holiday season is filled with an abundance of sweets and treats. While these Christmas candies can be delicious, they can also pose a number of risks to your oral health. Cookies, candy canes and other desserts don’t have to lead to cavities.

The naturally occurring bacteria in your mouth feed on the sugar, leaving behind acids. Over time, these acids wear down tooth enamel which leads to weaker teeth that are more susceptible to tooth decay and gingivitis.

Snacking on sweets throughout the day can be particularly harmful to your teeth. The acid produced from these sugar packed snacks can effect teeth for up to 20 minutes after they are consumed. Brushing after snacking can help to reduce bacteria and your risks for cavities and gingivitis.

Here are our top tips for staying cavity free this holiday season:

Find a Balance
When you eat sugary snacks try to do so with a meal to reduce the impact they have on your teeth.

Avoid Sticky Sweets
Sticky sweets cling to your teeth keeping contact with your enamel. Additionally, these candies can loosen or remove fillings and crowns. Opt for items that dissolve quickly.

Keep Supplies Handy
Keeping a travel toothbrush, toothpaste and floss in your bag, desk or car can help to keep your teeth at their best even when you are on the go.

Rinse Frequently
Rinsing your mouth with water after eating or drinking can help to remove food particles and bacteria when brushing isn’t an option.

Brush Away
Your best defense against bacteria is frequent brushing. Brush your teeth after eating and drinking. When consuming foods that are high in acid, wait at least 30 minutes before brushing to protect the enamel.

Your smile is one of the first things people notice about you, so it’s important to keep it at its best. Brushing and flossing are important to overall dental health, but there are other steps you can take to keep your teeth pearly white.

Visit the Dentist
It is estimated that approximately 50% of adults in the United States do not have yearly dental appointments. One of the best ways to keep your teeth at their healthiest is by visiting the dentist twice a year. Regular dental visits will help to catch issues like decay and gum disease while they are still in treatable stages.

Brushing & Flossing
Good dental health starts with proper brushing and flossing. Bacteria and food particles can linger in your mouth long after meals. Brushing twice a day can help to remove the food build up. When brushing it is important to in gentle, short, circular motions. Flossing is the only way to reach the areas between teeth, so it is important that you floss regularly.

Reduce Your Sugar Intake
Sugar is the leading cause of tooth decay. Sugary snacks and sodas make your teeth more susceptible to cavities and cause a plaque buildup which can eat away at tooth enamel. To keep your pearly whites at their best, try to limit your sugar intake and brush after meals.

Stop Smoking
You’ve heard it before, but smoking is detrimental to the health of your mouth and body. Not only does the nicotine and tar in cigarettes cause teeth to yellow, but smoking causes gums to recede. The bacteria found in cigarettes damages the gums and degrades the jaw bone that supports the teeth. Additionally, the chemicals in tobacco are a leading cause of oral cancer.

Along with proper brushing and flossing and regular visits to the dentist, you can keep your smile shinny bright.

Age, health conditions and other factors can all put seniors at risk for a number of oral health issues. Oral health is an important component of overall health and well-being, but can often be overlooked. There are several conditions that are commonly found in senior patients:

Cavities effect all ages, not just children. As you age, the risk of tooth decay increases, simply because adults do not visit the dentist as regularly as children. When cavities go undetected and untreated for longer periods, the problem ultimatley worsens. No matter your age, you should visit the dentist on a regular basis.

Dry mouth or xerostomia, is a condition plaguing many seniors. It is estimated that upwards of 20% of seniors suffer from dry mouth. Typically it is caused by a variety of medicines. Common prescriptions such as decongestants, antihistamines, pain medicines, antidepressants, diuretics, muscle relaxers and high blood pressure medicines can all cause the condition. To help alleviate dry mouth, drink plenty of water and limit you caffeine and alcohol intake.

Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. Periodontal disease is an infection that effects the gums and tissues surrounding the teeth causing them to become inflammed or seperate from the teeth. In the early stages, the disease is painless, but as it advances it becomes more painful, causing sore gums and pain when eating. Proper brushing and flossing can prevent gum disease. Seniors are more prone to the disease due to arthritis and limited dexterity.

Many seniors can also have difficulty eating due to cavities, missing teeth, gum disease, or poorly fitting dentures. These oral health problems can make it challenging to eat and force an adjustment in the balance of their diet.

Good oral health habits are important at any age. Regardless of age, brushing twice a day, flossing and regular visits to the dentist can keep your teeth at their healthiest.