A Holiday Treat for Your Teeth
Sweet, sugary drinks topped with whipped cream or marshmallows, mulled wine or hot cider, Christmas cookies and candy canes—Holiday treats are a delight, but they also do a number on our teeth. While you’re enjoying the delights of the season, here’s a treat you can give your teeth that will help balance out the occasional sweet indulgence: have a glass of water.
While you might not carry your toothbrush with you wherever you go, it’s fairly common to bring water bottles everywhere, which is a great habit for your teeth. After eating or drinking something sweet, wash it down with a few mouthfuls of water. Rinsing sugars and food debris away will help tide your teeth over until you can brush with fluoride toothpaste.
Water also helps keep your saliva levels high, another bonus for your teeth. Saliva is one of your mouth’s best defenses against tooth decay because it contains proteins and minerals that counteract enamel–eating acids. Saliva is made up of 95 percent water, so if you want to avoid unnecessary cavities do yourself a favor and keep sipping on that water glass.
Tired of water but want to do something good for your teeth anyway? Try green tea. Green tea helps control bacteria and lowers the acidity of saliva and dental plaque, so it may be a useful tool in preventing cavities. A recent study in Egypt tested people before and after rinsing their mouths with green tea. The test subjects had less bacteria and acid in their mouths, as well as reduced gum bleeding after rinsing.
Wishing you and your family good health and happiness this holiday season!
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