Now that we’ve settled into autumn, there’s one immutable fact we all have to face: the holidays are coming!
Whether the thought of holiday shopping, preparing for guests, and attending family, friend, and work functions fills you with a sense of unmitigated joy or utter dread, preparation is critical to getting through the festive season. Although your to-do list might already seem like a mile long, scheduling a pre-holiday dental appointment should be near or at the top.
You might wonder why now is the perfect time for a pre-holiday dental checkup. Here are five compelling reasons why you should prioritize professional dental care before the holidays.
- Avoid holiday dental emergencies
Nobody wants to have to deal with a dental emergency, especially right in the middle of holiday celebrations. However, dental issues such as tooth decay, cracked teeth, or loose crowns can bring your holiday festivities to a screeching halt.
Catching potential issues early is the key to preventing dental emergencies from spoiling the holidays. Visiting your dentist for a thorough examination allows your dentist to identify and correct dental health problems long before the holiday season begins. You can then look forward to joining friends, family, and colleagues at get-togethers with confidence.
- Prepare a brighter smile for holiday pictures
Taking pictures and posting them on social media is a huge part of our culture, especially now that almost everyone carries a high-definition camera in their pocket. During the holidays, people take pictures more than ever at parties and dinners and while opening presents. If your teeth are stained or discoloured, you might feel too self-conscious to smile for the camera, which is a shame because you deserve a beautiful white smile!
Teeth whitening is an easy, popular, and safe way to enhance your smile for holiday photos. Professional teeth whitening treatments can remove unsightly stains caused by coffee, tea, wine, and other foods and beverages that tend to make their mark on your teeth. Booking your teeth whitening session with your dentist now will ensure your smile is camera-ready when the holidays come around.
- Attend holiday parties with confidence by handling missing or damaged teeth early
Many people suffer from the effects of missing or damaged teeth, which affect their ability to chew or speak with confidence. It also might affect their desire to smile at a time of year when everyone should be smiling!
Dental implants, bridges, and crowns are effective, long-lasting solutions that will restore the function and appearance of your teeth. However, these procedures can take multiple dental visits spanning several weeks to fix your smile completely. Book your dental restoration appointment now so you’ll be ready for holiday dinners, conversations, and smiles.
- Start your teeth straightening journey now
A pre-holiday dental checkup is the perfect time to solve your crooked teeth with Invisalign. These custom-made, clear plastic trays are a great alternative to braces as they are practically invisible. Invisalign trays gently move your teeth into a new position, setting you on a new path to optimal dental health.
People with Invisalign smile more and enjoy their new boost in confidence. Ask your dentist about this safe, effective treatment now so you’re ready for holiday celebrations and pictures down the road.
- Solve wisdom teeth issues early
People in their late teens or early twenties often experience tooth pain associated with impacted or troublesome wisdom teeth. If wisdom teeth issues are left untreated, you increase your risk of dental infection, which can lead to serious health consequences.
You can minimize the impact of tooth pain and infection due to your wisdom teeth by booking an examination with your dental health team. If a wisdom tooth needs to be extracted, it’s best to take care of it long before you commit to any holiday get-togethers. The good news is that, unlike your other teeth, extracted wisdom teeth don’t need to be replaced with an implant, crown, or bridge, so once you’ve healed from the extraction procedure, your smile is good to go.
Tips for maintaining oral health during holiday events
Remember: you might be on holiday, but your dental care should never be. We understand how tempting holiday treats and beverages can be, so by following the below tips for maintaining oral health during holiday events, you can enjoy the festivities while ensuring your teeth and gums remain strong and healthy.
Be careful with sugary snacks
It’s hard to say “no” when grandma offers you a piece of pie or someone at the office brings homemade sweets to share. The problem is that the sugar from these treats can stick to your teeth, leading to tooth decay and cavities. Once you’ve indulged in any sugary snack, rinse your mouth with water or chew sugarless gum to remove loose food particles, and use floss to get rid of any residue stuck between teeth.
Opt for healthy selections at the snack table
Many holiday get-togethers feature an array of sugary snacks and healthy selections. Focus more on the latter than the former, especially if the healthy offerings include cheese, nuts, carrots, broccoli, edamame, beans, seeds, and other mineral-rich snacks that will help support your oral health.
Drink plenty of water
Soft drinks, wine, alcohol, and juice are all staples of many holiday parties. However, they’re also very high in acidity, which can lead to dental erosion and decay. If you indulge in these beverages, drink plenty of water to neutralize the acids and protect your teeth from damage.
Brush and floss regularly
The holidays are a time for joy and celebration, but if you neglect to care for your teeth during this time, you might not have a happy new year. Minimize the risk of tooth decay, cavities, and gingivitis by brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and flossing at least once daily to keep your teeth and gums clean and healthy.
Preparing for the holidays means more than buying gifts and planning parties. It’s also about making sure your teeth are healthy and strong so you can enjoy the festivities with confidence. Don’t wait until your calendar fills up with holiday commitments – book your pre-holiday dental visit now to ensure your smile is as beautiful as possible throughout the festive season!
Book your preventative dental care appointment before the holidays with the dental team at Yonge Eglinton Dental in Toronto
Our dental health experts will help ensure your teeth look great and are as healthy as possible for the busy holiday season. Make an appointment for an office visit today by calling our office at 416-932-2222 or booking online. We look forward to seeing you!
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