5 Ways to Keep Your Smile Bright This Holiday Season
The holidays are a wonderful time for gatherings, photo ops, and sharing laughter over meals. You want your smile to sparkle through every moment. Below are five practical tips from Carol Scuro, DMD, Bradford Emery, DMD, Nicholas Emery, DDS, and the entire Emery & Scuro DMD, PC team here in Rochester, New York, to help you maintain a bright, healthy smile this season.
1. Be smart with your festive treats
Yes, we all love holiday cookies and hot chocolate, but sugar and acid are your smile’s sneaky adversaries. To protect your enamel:
- Try to enjoy sweets with meals (not grazing all day)
- Sip water in between sugary beverages
- Use a straw for fizzy or colored drinks
If you find that your teeth feel extra sensitive or discolored, our teeth whitening or porcelain veneer options can help restore that brightness.
2. Stick to your brushing and flossing routine
The hustle and bustle of the holiday season can derail your healthy habits. However, brushing and flossing are nonnegotiables if you want to keep plaque and stains at bay. Aim to:
- Brush twice each day with fluoride toothpaste
- Floss nightly
- Rinse with a fluoride mouthwash
If you’ve been putting off a cleaning, schedule your preventive care visit so our team can remove hidden buildup before it becomes a problem.
3. Refresh your smile between celebrations
You don’t need to wait until January to enhance your smile. Consider these end-of-the-year refreshes:
- Use a touch-up whitening pen or over-the-counter (OTC) whitening trays
- Ask us about an in-office teeth whitening touch-up
Our practice can help you select whitening options that are safe for your enamel and effective for your lifestyle.
4. Drink plenty of water
Hydration is great for your whole body, including your mouth. Water helps wash away lingering food particles and neutralizes acids. Crunchy fruits and vegetables (like apples, carrots, celery) supply hydration and naturally scrub your teeth.
Plus, these foods contain vitamins your gums love. If gum sensitivity becomes an issue, our laser gum therapy (LANAP®) treatments can help you restore your gum health.
5. Don’t wait to fix underlying issues
Sometimes a tiny chip or dark spot doesn’t bother you much until you get to the holiday season and there are up-close photos and gatherings in abundance. Rather than feeling self-conscious or hiding your smile, schedule a visit to address:
- Cracks or chips with tooth-colored fillings, crowns, or veneers
- Missing teeth with dental implants or crowns/bridges
- Root issues or internal pain with root canal therapy
Having those repairs done before the season peaks means you can smile confidently in every snapshot and toast.
Celebrate the season with confidence
Your smile is often the first thing people notice, and during the holidays, it’s a gift you can share. Whether you’re due for a cleaning, ready for a whitening boost, or want to address an issue before the new year, don’t wait until January to start caring for your smile.
Schedule your appointment today, and let us help you shine bright through every gathering, every photo, and every moment this holiday season. Call now or request an appointment online today.
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