Spokane Dentist

This is a delicious time of year: a bag full of candy trick or treating, caramel apples at the pumpkin patch, hot cocoa and holiday cookies, New Years treats , and Valentines chocolates. As we gear up for a yummy winter, your Spokane Dental team has some tips and tricks to keep the whole family’s teeth healthy this season:

Timing Is Everything:

From an oral health perspective, timing is everything. Specifically, it is the amount of time that teeth are exposed to sugar that counts. The longer that teeth are exposed to sugar the more compromised the enamel.

Here’s how it works: our teeth are covered in good and bad bacteria. That fuzzy film you feel on your teeth in the morning when you forgot to brush the night before, or sipped on a sugary coffee all morning? It’s bacteria forming colonies called plaque. “Tartar” or calculus buildup is plaque that has hardened on the teeth over time.

These bacterial colonies feast on simple carbohydrates, AKA sugar, and then produce acidic excrement that eats away the enamel of the tooth, causing cavities. The longer and more often throughout the day that these “sugar bugs” are fed, the worse off your teeth will be.

Pro Tip: Enjoy your sugary treat or drink in one sitting, instead of munching throughout the day.

Drink Wisely:

Just adding more water into your daily routine can make a huge difference in your oral (and overall) health. Water rinses teeth well, so adding in more of it mean teeth can stay squeaky clean. Drink water with and after every meal, and consider switching to water instead of daily juice, soda, or other drinks.

Pro Tip: Drink a sip of water alongside a coffee or sugary drink. This will help cleanse the teeth of acid and sugar.

Don’t Stop Flossing:

We have all experienced the busy-ness and rush of the holiday season that can easily throw us off our healthy routines. The key? Don’t stop flossing. It may seem silly and irrelevant, but if you are bound and determined to keep flossing every day, then you will almost accidentally end up brushing twice a day too. You already are in the bathroom flossing, may as well brush too right?

Keeping those healthy habits is imperative to making it through the holiday season with a healthy smile. Teeth should be brushed twice a day and flossed once a day. Things like mouthwash are an added bonus!

Pro Tip: Keep flossers by the couch and do it while you watch TV. Can’t remember to brush? Have a toothbrush at your desk or by the kitchen sink: somewhere convenient you’ll see it and use it.

Prevention is Key:

Again with the busy-ness of the holiday season: things like that teeth cleaning appointment can seem daunting and like another task to stack on the to-do list. When it comes to dentistry, prevention really is key. Dr. Smith and your Spokane Dental team spend a lot of time, effort, and education with every patient on prevention.

Our goal is to help our patients have the best oral health possible, and preventive care is the best way to do that. Regular dental cleanings are essential to preventing gum and oral disease. Regular dental exams are essential to preventing cavities and more extensive restorative dental work.

Pro Tip: Schedule dental visits regularly every six months to help prevent oral disease.

If it’s time for you and the family to get a check up, call us today! Reach our friendly office staff at (509)822-5614. From our Spokane Dental team, have a happy Halloween and a wonderful Holiday season!