Published on October 11, 2018, Updated on October 11, 2018
How often should you see the dentist for dental cleanings and exam? What about your child? How can they keep their smiles healthy throughout all the upcoming holidays such as Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas? There are many ways to keep a healthy smile this season, while still enjoying the holidays and the sweet treats they bring. Follow these simple tips and recommendations to have that beautiful and healthy smile from now on!
Have you ever thought about how important your smile is? Studies show that a person’s smile is one of the first things others notice about them. About 1/3rd of all people will look at a person’s smile first and will determine many things about their life because of it. Studies show that a better (and straighter) smile makes others think of you as healthier, wealthier, more confident and even more trustworthy.
How well you eat and how you take care of your smile can determine if you have a healthy smile or one plagued by decay and oral health diseases. Factors that can hurt your smile include:
For some people, it’s rather easy to avoid sugary foods and to take care of the teeth through proper oral hygiene. However, that can become much more difficult when the holidays roll around and schedules become busier. To have a healthy smile year-round, people have to plan ways to brush and floss while at work or on vacation. During the holidays, candy and sweet treats become more common, as does over-eating and busier schedules. When family and friend gatherings happen, your oral health may be the last thing on your mind.
If you need to, physically write a reminder to brush and floss your teeth during the holidays and busy times. Keep a to-go brush and floss kit with you or healthy snacks you can eat (instead of candy) when you’re in a bind. This is especially important for major holiday times that bring lots of sugary treats.
It’s actually quite easy to prevent oral health problems from happening to your healthy smile. As we mentioned, you have to up your game with oral hygiene and keep at it always. These are a few simple recommendations that come straight from our office and the American Dental Association:
Did you know that children should be visiting the dentist from the time they start to get teeth as an infant? As soon as there are teeth in the mouth, those delicate baby teeth can decay. That is why children need to start their dental visits before they are 3 years old, when they’ll have all the baby teeth in the mouth. Children should be seen around 1 year of age and biannually after that time to check for decay and to keep a healthy smile.
Adults and teens also need to visit the dentist biannually to keep healthy smiles. If you or your child are due for an exam or cleaning, call Hardy Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics today at (720) 887-6003 to achieve your healthy smile!