It is hard to believe that another holiday season is upon is, and with it comes holiday parties, wonderful goodies, and lots of reasons to celebrate. With so much going on, so many holiday parties, so much shopping to do, and so many reasons to celebrate, caring for your teeth and dental emergencies are certainly not at the top of anyone’s Christmas “to-do” list!
However, this is the season that more than our wallets and waistlines take a beating, and before we know it January is upon us and so is our resolve to get our finances and our budgets back in order. While shedding a few pounds and paying off credit cards can be an on ongoing struggle, we have a few ideas to make getting and keeping your teeth healthy this year, a much easier endeavor.

First of all, the good news, the really good news, is that taking care of your dental health requires literally no will power. You can still have healthy teeth and gums, and still indulge in the cookies, candies and festive drinks you like to this time of year. You just need to place a little extra emphasis on caring for your teeth given the increase in the amount of sugar, and chewing you will be doing.
So, here are a few dental health tips to get you through the holiday season:
1. A glass of water – yes, just a simple glass of water. Keep one with you while you snack on the sugary candy and cookies. Then take a quick minute after indulging to take a sip and swish it around your mouth to loosen and remove some of the sugar from just sitting on your teeth. Besides that, the water will catch that big chive stuck in your teeth and ruining your smile
2. Sugar-free gum – again, another quick trick that will help reduce your risk of getting cavities after you have indulged in your favorite goodies
3. Floss – every night before you go to bed, or in the car on the way home from a party, it doesn’t matter where and when just make sure you are faithful about it this time of year. Nuts, popcorn, cookies all of those treats we love to eat can get caught in our teeth and that much sugar sitting directly on our gums can do real damage very quickly. Flossing is so simple, and takes only a moment, and can help so much in keeping your teeth healthy over the holiday season. If you ask your dentist for some “Easy Thru”. This is a floss sample you can get free from your dentist… these are great, small dental samples you can keep in your car, purse or wallet. Let’s you floss anytime, anywhere! Plus it is free
4. Extra brushing – commit to brush your teeth one more time every day or brush for one minute longer. Many of us up our exercise routine, or skip a meal, so we can indulge at the holiday party. We make lots of adjustments so that we do not expand our waistlines over the holiday season, so put that same emphasis on caring for your teeth. A little extra attention to keeping your teeth brushed can reduce your risk of cavities and other dental problems over the holiday season.
5. Emergency Dental Help – what is it about the holiday season that increases the likely hood that you will break a tooth or get a tooth-ache? Not sure whether it is because we are so busy, or because we eating hard candy, like my personal favorite peanut brittle, but for some reason the holiday season and dental emergencies are closely linked. So find out ahead of time, from your dentist what to do if a dental emergency should occur. Is their office going to be open (our holiday hours are listed below)? Who is the dentist on call? What is the best phone number to reach your dentist?
6. New Year’s Resolution – finally, make the decision now to make and keep your dental health a priority in 2013. Start your year off by getting a dental check-up first thing in January, and ask your hygienist to provide you with tips and ideas of how to keep your teeth healthy, white and strong all year long.
Asheville Dental Care’s offices will be closed December the 24th, 25th, 26th, 31st, and on January the 1st. We will be open all day December the 27th and until 2pm on the 28th . If you have a dental emergency please call the regular office number (274-3882) and we will update the voicemail to help direct you to the doctor on call.
We at Asheville Dental Care wish all of you the most wonderful of holiday seasons. We thank you for being our patients, and we look forward to seeing you in the New Year!









