Preventing Cavities This Holiday Season

Cavities are one of the most common dental problems in the world, with most people developing a cavity before they even reach adulthood. Cavities occur when sugars found in the food and drink we consume interact with naturally-occurring bacteria in our mouths to produce acids. These acids erode the layers of the teeth one by one, exposing the sensitive inner layer and causing pain. Over time, decay can penetrate the roots of the teeth, causing them to die and the teeth to fall out. It can also spread to surrounding teeth. The best thing to do is to prevent cavities from forming.

Risk factors for cavities

There are several factors that can increase your risk of developing a cavity. The most common include:

• Failing to brush your teeth properly and regularly
• Failing to floss properly and regularly
• Eating and drinking things that are very sugary or are highly acidic
• Wearing braces
• Undergoing Invisalign treatment
• Having damaged teeth, such as chips or cracks
• Suffering from dry mouth

If any of the above apply to you, you should pay extra special attention to your dental care at all times, including during the holiday season.

Holiday risk factors for cavities and how to prevent them

Although cavities can occur at any time of the year, there are particular risks associated with the holiday season that could see you developing dental decay much sooner than you might otherwise expect. Some of the reasons for this are:

Sweet treats. The holiday season is a time to indulge in your favorite foods and drinks, but many of our top choices are very bad for our teeth. For example, candy canes are pretty much pure sugar, and since they are very hard, biting down on one could cause damage to your teeth such as a chip or fracture. Try and limit your exposure to sugar as much as you can to best preserve your oral health.

Say no to nuts. Nuts are a very popular festive food, but they are also some of the hardest things that we can eat. Biting and chewing nuts is hard enough on healthy teeth, but if you have areas of weakness such as hairline fractures or your tooth is a little loose in the gums, eating foods like nuts could put them under too much pressure, causing them to break. Say no to nuts to prevent cavities and other damage to your smile.

Avoid too much alcohol. Alcohol is also very high in sugar, with some drinks and accompaniments being highly acidic too. Again, these accelerate the rate at which bacteria and sugars interact and form plaque acids in your mouth, attacking your teeth and causing decay. Try and limit your alcohol intake and choose sugar-free mixers wherever you can.

Late nights. Time flies when you’re having fun, and over the holiday season, it’s not unusual to become so tired that you fall into bed without completing your usual night-time routine. However, going to sleep without brushing your teeth gives plaque longer to form on your teeth, and for plaque acids to attack the enamel, causing spots of decay to appear. Always do your very best to remember to brush your teeth before bed, even if you forget to floss. Your smile will thank you for it!

Cavities can occur at any time, but by visiting your dentist regularly, you have the best chance of making sure that they are spotted early. This will enable you to get treatment early; before your cavities cause pain or before they require much more extensive treatment. If you have any FSA benefits remaining, schedule a pre-Christmas check-up to take advantage of them before the end of the year.

Make sure you attend all your routine appointments with your dentist to prevent cavities and other dental problems this holiday season. Call 

Rudell Gary S. Jacinto, DMD General, and Cosmetic Dentistry in Los Angeles, California at 323-405-9428 to schedule an appointment.