How to Keep Your Oral Health in Tip-Top Shape this Thanksgiving

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Your dentist, Dr. Gilbert Fernandez, and our dental team care about you and your smile, which is why we strongly encourage you to do your best to keep your smile and oral health in tip-top shape. This is important because the foods, habits, and activities during Thanksgiving can put your teeth and gums in danger. So, to keep your smile in pristine condition this holiday season, our Gilbert Fernandez, DDS, Inc. team encourages you to do the following things:

-Don’t snack all day: Even though there are many different kinds of foods and treats constantly available throughout the day, it’s best to avoid snacking. Snacking makes your smile vulnerable to tooth decay because it never gets a chance to rejuvenate and build its strength back up. So, it’s best to just eat your Thanksgiving meal without snacking before or after.

-Be careful with dessert: We all know sugar is your smile’s enemy. It threatens your teeth and promotes tooth decay. So, whether you’re having pumpkin pie or another delicious dessert, it’s best to limit your consumption and wash the sugar down with water.

-Brush your teeth: After you are done eating, clean your smile by brushing your teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Brushing will help you wash away the harmful particles that attack your smile and it will also help you avoid having “food-stuck-in-your-smile” moments. However, if you consumed something acidic, it’s best to wait 30 minutes before brushing.

-Wear a mouthguard: Many people like to play a friendly game of football before or after their Thanksgiving dinners. If your family also has this tradition, then we recommend wearing a mouthguard while you play. Wearing a mouthguard will help you prevent oral injury when a hard, forceful object, like an elbow, knee, or football, hits your mouth.

To learn more about how to have a smile-healthy Thanksgiving in Albuquerque, New Mexico, please call our office today at 505-898-8063. We are here to help you in any way we can, and we look forward to hearing from you!