Do you know what can really put a damper on the holiday festivities? A dental emergency. Unfortunately, dental disaster can occur at any time, and they’re even more prevalent during the holiday season. Thankfully, your emergency dentist in Crown Point has some easy tips you can use to avoid emergency while still enjoying all of the traveling, parties, and food the holidays have to offer.
Tip #1: Avoid Sticky or Chewy Sweets
Sticky or chewy candy like caramel or taffy can cling to your teeth and even dislodge a filling or crown. Especially if you have any pain or discomfort in your smile, try to avoid sticky treats and snacks to keep your teeth safe. They also stay in contact with your teeth for long periods of time, which increases your risk of cavities and tooth decay.
Tip #2: Don’t Use Your Teeth as Tools
Over the holidays, you may find yourself anxious to rip open a package or crack a bottle. Do not turn to your teeth to help with these tasks! This is a quick way towards a trip to your dentist in Crown Point for a broken or cracked tooth. That’s why it’s a good idea to use your household tools instead of your pearly whites. Even though your tooth enamel is the strongest material in your body, you should only use your chompers to chew food and talk!
Tip #3: Avoid Chewing Hard Candy or Ice Cubes
Instead of chewing on ice cubes, let them melt to avoid a painful crack or chip. Also, be weary of chewing on hard candy because they can cause a dental emergency if you aren’t careful. You can suck on both of these items instead of chewing, but you should also watch out for the cavities that slowly dissolving candy can cause.
Tip #4: Watch Out for Stress
The holiday season can bring a lot of stress to you and your family, which can sometimes cause habits like nail biting. Biting your nails can actually crack and chip your teeth if you’re not careful, so you should try to cut down stress during this time of year.
Tip #5: Let the Nutcrackers Do the Cracking
Nuts are great snacks because they provide you with protein and fiber, but you should watch out for cracking them with your teeth. This can cause painful cracks and chips in your smile. That’s why you should leave the cracking to the pros, or just buy pre-shelled nuts.
Use these tips to avoid dental disaster during the holiday season! That way, you can celebrate all of the festivities knowing that you’re taking care of your beautiful pearly whites.
Meet the Dentist
Dr. Danny Hayes and Dr. Christine Mousa are a team of dentists who love getting to know their patients to provide them with personalized care. They know the holidays can cause an increase in dental emergencies, which is why they want you to know some easy tips on how to avoid them. They currently practice at Advanced Dental Concepts, and they can be contacted through their website or by phone at (219) 663-6878 for any questions.