Don't let Holiday Drinks Hurt your Teeth

The air is starting to get cooler and the sun is going down sooner in most of the United States.  This means that Fall has come and the holidays are right around the corner.  With all of the get-togethers and family and friends holidays, it is most likely that the average person will find themselves drinking more specialty and adult drinks this time of year. I know for myself that I like to enjoy those sweet coffees in the morning from Starbucks.  The pumpkin spice craze is truly here and there is no way that I am not going to partake in the seasonal drinks.  But there are some things to be aware of and some ways to keep your dental health strong during this time of year.  Even if you are partaking of a lot more sweet and acidic drinks there are ways to protect your teeth and to keep you from having to visit the dentist for an emergency trip during the Holiday season.

 

The first thing that I always like to say is be aware of what you are drinking.  If you are drinking specialty coffees every morning then just know what is in them.  The first thing to know is that they are coffee and are highly acidic.  This means that you can have some big issues with acid breaking down the enamel on your teeth.  But the bonus issue that happens this time of year is that the extra sweet and sugary add-ins from the holiday taste are filled with sugar.  So the acid is stripping your teeth and the sugar is clinging on and breaking down your enamel.  The erosion is eventually going to cause cavities if not taken care of.  If you do this a lot of times during the day or week, you are putting your teeth through a hard time and also probably causing some yellowing to happen.  Coffee stains your teeth because of the acid and dark color.  So don't think that your pumpkin spice latte won't do the same thing. 

 

One great thing to do after drinking those amazing specialty drinks and morning coffee is drink water.  It sounds strange but cleaning your mouth and rinsing it with water can help get that acid and sugar off your teeth.  Not only does it clean your mouth, but it helps you produce more saliva by staying hydrated.  Saliva is your natural cleaner and it will help your mouth naturally get rid of the harmful things on your teeth. 

 

So grab a water bottle and help your own mouth out.  I like to carry a water bottle around all day and it can be a nice classy bottle.  There are lots of mugs, stainless steel bottles, and containers that can fit into any environment.  I highly suggest getting a non-bpa bottle and drinking throughout the day in order to help keep your mouth safe. 

 

Now another way to help protect your teeth and mouth is to actually add in some brushing.  I love to keep a mini disposable brush that has toothpaste on it already and that I can use after lunch or after a quick seasonal drink.  This helps to protect my teeth by putting fluoride back on them and getting the sugar and acid off.  It also helps me personally freshen my breath and I am a big fan of it.

Protect your Teeth From the Yellow

We have all seen it happen and it is a slow process in our lives. I am talking about the slow yellowing of our teeth.  This year more than most people are focusing on their dental health.  That is because of the COVID-19 Pandemic and all of the changes it has had on our lives.  The fact is that it has fundamentally changed how we work, shop, and see each other. That is one of the reasons that people are now focusing on their teeth and how to keep them safe. My own journey has led me to try new things and creating new routines. That is why I want to go over a few things that I have done in my life to attempt to keep my teethbrighter and my smile a little more friendly.

 

What really got me into thinking about my teeth so much was the change in my work life. It is now a natural part of my day to simply go from zoom call to zoom call. That is why I have been worried about my looks and the fact that people are talking about my smile.  It is because I have yellow teeth and it shows online. Now instead of going to a meeting in person, I am being highlighted and my face it taking up an entire screen.  This has simply highlighted my poor dental health and my teeth are now a focal point that I am not happy with. So the first thing I went to work on was my own routine.

 

With the change in my work routine, I found that I had more time in my day.  That is because I am not traveling to my job anymore.  Instead, now I am working from home and have more time in the morning and at lunch.  What this allowed me to do more with my dental hygiene routine each day.  Normally I will be honest I only brush my teeth once a day.  That is normally in the morning, but I knew that I needed to do more.  This year has been a lightning rod that hit me in the teeth letting me know I need more and that is what I am working on doing.  So now I have changed from one brushing to three.

I have been able to add in the extra two brushings on my lunch break and right after dinner.  I thought it would be really hard to do at first, but I decided to make a true habit out of my brushing.  This meant that I would need thirty days of the same thing to make my body used to doing it.

 

I decided to add in alarms to help my situation.  Luckily it is 2020  and I have a smartphone.  I simply, put on an alarm for lunch and after dinner each day.  I decided to be intentional about brushing and I have followed through really well.  My teeth are now protected and getting whiter due to the whitening toothpaste.  It has taken a few months, but I have noticed a great increase in the brightness of my teeth. That has been a huge win to my work life and personal emotional health as well.  I am sure my dentist is happy about my tooth health too.  Hope this tip helps you in your work zoom calls too.