Many of you know that my husband Matt is currently in dental school, and as you can imagine, teeth have become a topic of conversation around our house. I was happy to have the opportunity to create this post with 8 tips for healthy teeth in partnership with the American Dental Association. 
The holidays are upon us and although many of us worry about the extra pounds we may pack on from all the delicious food we are sure to enjoy, we probably don’t think about how all those treats effect our dental health. Did you know that chocolate is better for your teeth than hard candy? Or that dried fruit is likely to get stuck on your teeth? I’ve got 8 tips for helping you keep your teeth healthy this holiday season.
8 Tips for Healthy Teeth
1. Brush twice a day for 2 minutes each time. The easiest way to do that? Listen to a song! A perfect gauge on time, my kids are going to love this one!
2. Eat dessert shortly after meal time. When you space out your sugar intake, the chance of getting cavities increases. Saliva production increases during meals and helps cancel out acids produced by bacteria in your mouth and helps rinse away food particles.
3. Chew gum after a meal if you can’t brush. Preferably a sugarless gum, which will help reduce your risk for cavities.
4. Drink water. Not only is this good for your health but also for your teeth! Sugary drinks are a major contributor to cavities.
5. Stay away from sticky. “When it comes to picking healthy snacks, many people put dried fruit at the top of the list. But many dried fruits are sticky and sticky foods tend to stay on the teeth longer than other types of food. If you find yourself eating a lot of dried fruits such as cranberries, make sure to rinse with water and brush carefully.”
6. Choose chocolate instead of hard candy. Chocolate washes off teeth more easily than hard candy, which can not only stay your teeth longer but can also contribute to chipping a tooth when biting down on a hard candy.
7. Floss daily. We’ve all heard it, and need to do it more! Flossing removes plaque and other particles from between teeth and is essential to preventing cavities.
8. Visit your dentist regularly. If you have questions about dental visits check out this page on the ADA’s website.
Mouthhealthy.org can answer all your questions about well… keeping your mouth healthy. 🙂 If you’ve got questions about teeth you can find the answers there. Like if you’re curious about baby teeth and when they are supposed to come in, or what to say to your teen who wants to get their tongue pierced. The ADA’s website is a comprehensive guide to all things teeth!
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of American Dental Association.