Dental Health Tips for a Healthy Holiday Season

• Don’t forget to brush. Even though you may come home exceptionally late, make brushing and flossing a priority, especially at night. At night, we don’t produce as much saliva, so our natural protective mechanism doesn’t take place, leaving our teeth more vulnerable to bacteria and decay.

• If you’re doing the cooking, opt for natural sweeteners such as stevia, monk fruit and coconut sugar. Try gluten-free recipes to decrease the carbs. It’s not just sugar that can ruin teeth. Carbohydrates turn into sugar, so make sure to limit them.

• Some sweets are better than others. Even though dried fruit is very natural, check your teeth also your kids’ teeth after eating them. Dried mangoes and goji berries, although delicious, are especially sticky and can remain on teeth for hours. The longer food is left on teeth, the higher the chance for getting cavities.

• Stress Less. Stress plays a big role in overall health. The less you stress, the healthier you’ll be throughout the season.

• Schedule a cleaning and checkup appointment. Many people want to make sure they use their dental insurance benefits, HSA or Flex spending accounts. The end of the year is a great time to check in with a dental office for a cleaning or any outstanding treatment that’s needed.

Bernice Teplitsky, DDS, is the owner of Wrigleyville Dental, located at 3256 N. Ashland Ave., in Chicago. For more information or to make appointments, call 773-975-6666 or visit WrigleyvilleDental.com.