Wintertime means a lot of things to everyone. For most people, Winter means at least one or two major holidays. With holidays, there is generally a certain amount of celebration going on. Celebrations equal food, drinks, and being merry. While this all sounds great on paper, this type of consumption can lead to a negligence of oral health. The holidays are one of those times of year where we are more likely to consume our fair share of sugary treats, drinks, and alcoholic beverages. Not brushing and flossing between meals is a major concern, since it happens more often than not for those who would much rather be having a good time instead of worrying about their health for a week while on vacation. The Upper Hunt Club Dental Centre in Ottawa has a few tips for you to protect your teeth and gums during the coming holiday season.

Set a Reminder
Even if you do not have time between meals, it is important to at least brush once in the morning and once at night. A good way of doing this is to set up an alarm to go off at the same time every day, twice per day, in order to prompt you to brush up in the morning and before you go to bed. What this does is allow you to integrate your brushing to be done at the same time each day. It creates a sense of normalcy and eventually you won't even need the alarms since it will become part of your daily routine every day.

Take Them With You
If you are on the go during the holidays and know that you won't be back for Christmas, then be sure to bring your cleaning tools everywhere you go. If you have a purse, why not slip a toothbrush and some floss in there so that you can clean up at the restaurant? Even if you are not travelling very far for the holidays, you may still not get home until the next day. If this is the case, then you should you have your toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss with you at all times. That way you can brush up while you migrate from one dinner party to the next.

The Softer, The Better
It is not uncommon to run into a truly tasty treat that is smothered with something extremely hard and crunchy. Peanut brittle tends to be the biggest culprit, in this regard. When the brittle is not made to be soft on purpose, then it is not unusual for this popular holiday confectionery to be a bit on the harder side. Candy platters are another dangerous area to avoid, if you are hoping to turn down anything too hard on your teeth. Sadly, all of that shock to the mouth can really do damage over time. Especially if you have dental issues as it is, it would be best to stick on the softer side of desserts during the holiday time. Opt for some tasty pumpkin pie instead.

Avoid Nut Cracking
The Upper Hunt Club Dental Centre in Ottawa wants you to know that nut cracking and tearing using your teeth is a big no-no, no matter what time of year. You might be in a hurry to get into a package of nuts and feel tempted to just tear blindly away at the bag using your teeth. Not only is this a bad habit in the first place, but it also does damage to your teeth. Serious gum and tooth damage can result in cracking nuts open with your teeth, as well. Invest in a real nut cracker or use a rubber hammer to get those nuts open. As for the bag, try to remain patient and cut it open safely via a sharp set of scissors. Your teeth will thank you. Besides, cutting open a bag calmly is more likely to not result in the bag exploding open and its contents ending up all over your freshly cleaned kitchen floor. Use the proper tools for packaging at all times.

A Major Bad Habit
Nail biting has to be one of the worse bad habits for those who do so regularly. Even people who do not ordinarily bite their nails may do so from time to time, due to anxiousness or hunger. If you are anxiously awaiting that delicious turkey to be cooked, try snacking on something soft and low fat to get you by rather than cause damage to both your teeth and your nail bed in the process.

The holiday season is spent spreading joy and sharing time with your loved ones. No matter how busy you get, do not ignore your oral health during this time. Contact us today to book a dental checkup before you get too busy with the holidays. The Upper Hunt Club Dental Centre in Ottawa wishes you a happy and safe holiday season!