4 Ways to Show Appreciation for Your Teeth This Thanksgiving

This holiday season, you should take a moment to show some appreciation for your pearly whites; after all, they do quite a lot for you! Whether it’s helping you talk, eat, or laugh throughout Thanksgiving dinner, your teeth deserve your thanks. Here’s more from your dentist in Oshkosh about why you should be thankful for your teeth this holiday season and how you can repay them by taking care of them.

1. Watch What You Eat

It’s hard to resist the tempting aroma of a freshly baked pumpkin or pecan pie, but you should enjoy sugary and starchy items in moderation and do what you can to avoid potentially problematic foods that could damage your teeth. No one wants to sustain a dental emergency during Thanksgiving dinner, after all! That said, be sure you’re also consuming plenty of lean proteins, healthy fats, and complex carbs to offset any unhealthy nutritional choices.

2. Brush Before Bedtime

If you go to sleep without brushing your teeth, you’re giving leftover food particles and bacteria several uninterrupted hours to wreak havoc inside your mouth! This can greatly increase your risk of oral health issues like tooth decay and gum disease—especially considering all of the sweets and treats that are shared this time of the year!

3. Drink Plenty of Water

From apple cider and mulled wine to eggnog and hot cocoa, there are plenty of festive drinks to enjoy all throughout the holidays!  And while it’s hard to resist indulging in some of these beverages every once in a while, you should stick to water as often as possible. Water is the absolute best beverage for your oral health, as it stimulates your mouth’s natural flow of saliva, which is your mouth’s first line of defense against cavity-causing bacteria.

4. Visit Your Dentist for Preventive Care

Visiting your dentist twice a year is one of the best ways you can show appreciation and gratitude to your pearly whites—and there’s no time like Thanksgiving to do this! Your dentist has the means and expertise for ensuring that your teeth aren’t just clean, but also in the clear and protected from oral health concerns that still might be in the early stages.

About the Author

The team at Oshkosh Complete Dentistry has proudly served the Oshkosh, WI community for several years under the leadership of Dr. Bob Heil! If you have any questions about how you can protect your smile this holiday season or would like to arrange a visit, you can contact the practice online or over the phone for assistance: (920) 235-0320.