The end-of-year “silly season” is certainly here – and don’t we all deserve it this year! It’s time to take a break, have some fun, and reconnect with the friends and family we’ve missed throughout the year.
It’s also a potentially tricky time for dental health. This is a result of seasonal stress and a dramatically increased consumption of alcohol and sweets.
As a dentist, promoting good oral health in your patients is a year-round endeavour, and preventative dental visits may fall by the wayside for some of your patients at this busy time of year. It’s still important to actively encourage and educate your patients and use the best dental supplies in Australia.
Oral Health Tips for Patients for the Silly Season
- Sugar feeds the bacteria that cause gum disease and tooth decay. It also weakens the tooth enamel. Make better food and drink choices (your waistline will thank you, too!). You can splurge a little, but still, avoid the worst of the season’s impacts.
- Be wary of excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages and sweets – especially sticky or chewy lollies. Soft drinks are also the enemy of healthy teeth and gums. Choose water as your drink of choice and if you do choose to drink spirits, use soda water rather than tonic, coke, juices, or other sugar-laden mixers.
- Everyone should brush their teeth twice daily, and floss once daily. It’s also a good idea to rinse the mouth with fresh, clean water after eating and drinking – especially after sugary foods and carbonated drinks. Alcohol-free mouthwashes are also a great idea.
- Make up a portable kit to take in your car, backpack, or handbag when you’re not at home. Include a toothbrush, mini toothpaste, dental floss, and a mini mouth rinse.
- Manage stress. Much as we love the season, many people also find this the most stressful time of the year. Stress can cause teeth grinding and clenching, leading to chipped or worn teeth, jaw pain, and headaches. A dentist can help, or refer you to the right professional for assistance with these.
- Don’t ignore dental issues – encourage patients to see you immediately if they develop a broken or loose tooth, pain, severely bleeding gums, signs of infection, severe or slow-to-heal mouth sore, or other issues.
- Christmas and the New Year is a great time to start teaching kids about their oral – it’s never too early! Adam Dental sells a wide range of dental plush toys and fun dental stickers that young kids will love – they make great stocking stuffers! We also have fun kids’ toothbrushes and toothpaste products.
Encourage your patients to commit to an annual mid-January dental visit. This includes children and the elderly! This is a great time to make sure that all is well with their oral health and nip any issues in the bud nice and early.
Contact Adam Dental today and browse our store for all of your preventative dentistry supplies – oral rinses, toothbrushes, toothpaste, interdental brushes and toothpicks, tongue cleaners, gums and mints, and everything you need for administering in-clinic dental care.
Merry Christmas!