Buying gifts, going to or hosting get-togethers, endless baking, putting up decorations. Although the holiday season brings so much joy and fun, it can also come with enormous stress! Unfortunately, by the time the festivities are over, your teeth and gums can suffer. How can stress impact your oral health, and how can you make it through the holiday stress with a healthy smile? Read on to find out.
Hectic Schedules
Like many families, you may have a booked schedule for the holidays. As a result, your normal routine can go out the window, including your daily oral hygiene. However, skipping brushing and flossing your teeth only allows bacteria and plaque to thrive. The white, sticky film can harden on your teeth, paving the way for decay and infection.
Too Much Food and Sugar
When you’re stressed, do you tend to eat more? It’s a common coping mechanism, unfortunately, and it can invite trouble for your smile. Starchy, sugary foods may be comforting in the moment, but they feed harmful oral bacteria. Plus, overeating these kinds of foods can increase your chances of developing diabetes, heart disease, and other systemic problems.
Teeth Grinding
For many, when stress hits, their body reacts by clenching or grinding their teeth. Sometimes, it happens while they’re asleep, which means it isn’t really a conscious choice! Teeth are strong enough to grind food, but the immense pressure of this grinding can chip or crack teeth over time.
How to Protect Your Smile from Holiday Stress
You may not be able to take stress out of the holidays, but there are healthier ways to deal with it, so it doesn’t harm your smile. First of all, no matter how crazy your schedule becomes, make sure you fit in oral hygiene. Bacteria don’t take a holiday, so continue to brush and floss daily.
The holiday season wouldn’t be complete without delicious food—just try to keep your indulgence under control, especially if you tend to eat because of stress. Instead of overeating, you could find other ways of reducing stress, such as taking a walk, talking to a friend or counselor, meditation, or doing something creative.
Perhaps most importantly, make sure you’re up to date with your visits to the dentist. They can not only make sure your teeth are strong enough to handle the holidays, but they can also provide advice for getting your smile through the season unscathed. Also, if you grind your teeth, they may offer a custom nightguard that can prevent further damage to your teeth.
The stress of the holidays doesn’t have to wreak havoc on your oral health, but you have to make smart choices. When you follow these tips, you can smile and enjoy the festivities a bit more!
About the Practice
At Beach Dental, Dr. Jason Parli and Dr. Alexis Gersten have the qualifications to provide the highest level of care, including dental implants, but they encourage preventing damage whenever possible. They have been serving the Westhampton, East Quogue, Manorville, East Moriches, and Westhampton Beach communities for decades. To schedule an appointment at Beach Dental, you may reach out online or call 631-325-0731.