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Press Release For more information, contact: Rachael Montgomery, ODA Creative Communications Intern 405.848.8873, 405.590.8466, [email protected]
Oral Health Tips during the Holiday Season Following basic oral health tips can help prevent unwanted dental problems
Oklahoma City – The holiday season is quickly approaching, and with that, comes gatherings that tempt Oklahomans to eat more. The Oklahoma Dental Association recommends following good oral health habits to help keep teeth healthy and cavity-‐free during the sweetest times of the year.
Sweet treats and other holiday favorites can affects one’s overall health, including mouth and gums. What you put in your mouth impacts not only your general health but also that of your teeth and gums. Consider following these oral health tips, especially throughout the holiday season.
Eat Halloween candy, and other sugary foods, with meals or shortly after mealtime. The increased amount of saliva produced during mealtime can help wash away food particles and acids built up by bacteria.
Avoid hard candy and other sweets that stay in your mouth for a long period of time. Although harder sweets seem like quick treats, they typically remain in the mouth longer than other types of candies, which increases the risk of tooth decay. Therefore, it is important to keep in mind the length of time it takes to eat a piece of candy.
Drink more water. Although this may seem unrelated to eating sweets, drinking optimally fluoridated water can actually prevent tooth decay. Try encouraging children to enjoy a glass of water with their Halloween haul.
Chew gum that has the ADA Seal. Believe it or not chewing sugarless gum can be good for your teeth because the increased saliva flow helps wash out food and neutralize the acid produced by dental plaque bacteria. The optimal time to chew gum is after a meal for around 20 minutes.
Clean between teeth daily with floss. Wouldn’t it be nice to proudly tell your dentist how often you floss? Decay-‐causing bacteria gets between teeth where toothbrush bristles can't reach, so don’t neglect this crucial part of tooth care.
Stay away from the sticky. There is a common misconception that dried fruits are better for your teeth than other sweets, however, dried fruits are more likely to stick to your teeth.
“People often overlook the importance of brushing their teeth after a meal, and the holiday season is no exception. However, by doing something so simple, you don’t have to be among the 66 percent of adults with visible plaque,” said ODA President Lindsay Smith, DDS. “As long as you remember to follow good oral habits, you can partake in all of the holiday sweets and goodies without worring about your teeth.”
The Oklahoma Dental Association is dedicated to mitigating the harmful effects that holiday sweets and foods have on dental hygiene by providing information that can help Oklahomans and their children keep their teeth and bodies healthy. The Oklahoma Dental Association, founded in 1907, has a membership of more than 1,600 dentists. The Association was established to help foster an awareness of the obligations and responsibilities of the dental profession to society, to help advance the art and science of dentistry and to promote public health and health services in the State of Oklahoma. For more information, visit www.okda.org.
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Editor’s Note: For more information about healthy habits for families, please visit MouthHealthy.org, which features dental health topics for every age and stage of life. If you would like to contact an ODA/ADA member dentist about oral health, please contact the ODA at 405.848.8873 or e-‐mail [email protected].
Reporters are invited to follow the ODA on Twitter @OklaDentalAssoc and Like the ODA on Facebook @Oklahoma Dental Association.
