It’s the season to eat and be merry. This week families will gather to spend some quality time together and dig into their favorite treats. Tables around the country will be filled with turkey, stuffing, and heaps of pies and treats.

Our Royal Oak Michigan dental practice, North Oaks Dental, wants to share a few tips on how you can keep your mouth healthy over the holidays. We hope you have a happy and safe Thanksgiving and spend quality time with family and friends. Just remember that we’re always here to meet your dental needs. Give us a call today at 248-712-1522.

Watch out for the sweets!

C’mon, we’re a dental office! It wouldn’t be a dental tip’s list if we didn’t remind you about the dangers of sweets. We’ll be honest with you, our dental team is guilty of indulging in holiday sweets just like you and everyone else. But here’s the problem with sugar and your oral health. The sugar itself doesn’t cause a cavity. Your mouth is filled with bacteria that feeds of sugar to create harmful acid. This acid can create cavities. It’s powerful enough to eat through your tooth’s enamel, which is strongest substance in the body.

If you must enjoy a few sweets, please remember to brush after the meal or rinse your mouth with water. The water will flush the sugar and food debris from your teeth before it has a chance to cause damage!

Cooking tip: Many artificial sweeteners do not cause tooth decay.

Beware of starches, too

Much like sugar, starches or carbohydrates have been found to cause tooth decay. The carbs and starches mix with the bacteria in the same way sugars do. We mention this because so many Thanksgiving dishes are loaded with starches, from the breads, stuffing, to the pie crusts, and even potatoes.

Don’t Stain Your Teeth

Coffee, red wine, tea, cranberry sauce … All of these things can cause dental stains. Some of us have more of a problem controlling dental stains than others. If you have a issues with staining, try to avoid this foods over the holiday, or rinse out your mouth thoroughly after enjoying these foods or beverages. And remember, if you’re unhappy with the shade of your teeth, you can always whiten your teeth with cosmetic dentistry teeth whitening.

We encourage our patients to enjoy the holidays — the food and all. Try to limit your sugar intake and aim toward the leafy greens and fruits high in vitamin C, which is great for your teeth.

If you are concerned about anything going on in your mouth or need to schedule a dental cleaning and exam, North Oaks Dental is here for you. Give us a call today at 248-712-1522 or use the online form to schedule a visit.