With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, you want to make sure that your smile looks and feels its best. Whether it’s a night out to dinner with your special someone or an evening spent cooking in the kitchen with the one you love, you don’t want anything to get in the way of your memorable and enjoyable holiday festivities. This includes keeping your smile safe from any sudden injuries or discomfort. To reduce your risk of having to spend Valentine’s Day with your emergency dentist, here are three ways to avoid a dental emergency this time of year.
Minimize Your Sugar Consumption
Chocolate-filled hearts, mega bags of gummy candies, and even bouquets made up of your favorite sweet treats might seem like a delicious gift to receive; however, these should be enjoyed in moderation. After all, they contain high amounts of sugar that can lead to a breakdown of your tooth enamel and cavity formations.
While taking a few bites during your evening together is perfectly fine, you’ll want to make sure that you brush and floss your teeth before bed to avoid a build-up of plaque and harmful bacteria.
Be Mindful of How Much Alcohol You Drink
Valentine’s Day is often a time when perfect meals consist of bottles of wine or heavier spirits. Consuming a glass or two early in the evening is fine, but you’ll want to switch over to water when finished. The reason is that many of these alcoholic beverages contain tannins that can stain your pearly whites. Also, they often have lots of sugar, which only contributes to the increased risk of cavities.
If you want to avoid drying out your mouth and suffering from a nagging toothache, make sure to keep your salivary glands working properly and bacteria flushed out by drinking plenty of water throughout the night.
Be Careful Eating Hard, Crunchy Foods
No one wants to spend Valentine’s Day in a dentist’s chair undergoing restorative care to fix a broken or chipped tooth. Unfortunately, this is what can happen if you’re not careful when biting down on a hard piece of candy.
While tooth enamel is strong, it can break under extreme pressure. Although you might think you’re not putting your teeth at risk, the power your mouth possesses when eating something hard or crunchy can result in a dental injury that requires a custom crown or root canal to fix.
Make sure your Valentine’s Day is a time you’ll remember for all the right reasons. Keep these tips in mind and prepare to enjoy the holiday with the one you love.
About the Author
Dr. Jason Herres completed his dental degree at Temple University before finishing a one-year Advanced Education of General Dentistry (AEGD) residency at the Naval Hospital Great Lakes at the Navy Recruit Training Command. At Dentistry for Life, he and his team can provide helpful tips to keep smiles healthy and damage-free, especially around the holidays. Contact us at (717) 569-3911 or visit us online to find out how to better protect your smile this Valentine’s Day.