Okemos, Lansing, and East Lansing, MI
Baby, it’s cold outside. During the winter, we often forget or neglect a lot, from our appearance to our health. We hide our bodies under our puffy coats and sweatpants. But one thing we shouldn’t ignore – our oral health! Establishing a daily regimen of brushing twice daily and flossing once a day can ensure you have a bright white smile through the winter months. However, it can be challenging to protect your teeth and gums during the holidays. Therefore, a leading Okemos dentist, Dr. Christine Tenaglia of Tenaglia Smiles, shares oral health tips for winter so you can maintain your sparkling smile all season long.
Toothbrush Care
Every day, your toothbrush goes to work twice a day to remove food debris and bacteria from your teeth and gums. It is critical to replace your toothbrush every three to four months or as soon as the bristles appear bent, worn down, or splayed to ensure an effective clean. Our professional Lansing general dentist recommends storing your toothbrush upright to air-dry and avoid storing it in a travel or other closed container as it could encourage bacterial growth. Keep your toothbrush in tiptop shape to ensure it effectively cleans your teeth.
Avoid Spreading Germs
Dr. Tenaglia, a leading family dentist in East Lansing, recommends replacing your toothbrush each time you recover from an illness to avoid re-infecting yourself. Also, avoid sharing your toothbrush with anyone else as it results in exchanging bacteria and other bodily fluids that could be damaging to your overall health. Also, if you share a bathroom with anyone else in your household, always store toothbrushes separate and don’t allow them to touch to prevent cross-contamination.
Wear a Mouth Guard
Sports are a healthy way to exercise and provide entertainment. However, accidents can happen, regardless of the sport. Oral health injuries account for more than 600,000 visits to the emergency room every year. Therefore, the Okemos emergency dentist near you recommends protecting your oral health by wearing a mouthguard while participating in sports. You can obtain a mouth guard at your local drug store retailer, but a custom-made mouthguard can provide additional support and protection from tooth or gum damage.
Drink More Water
During the winter, people often sip hot cocoa or apple cider to warm up. But these drinks often contain high amounts of sugar that can erode your natural tooth enamel, causing cavities. When you sip on them throughout the day, you continuously subject your teeth to harmful oral bacteria. Our board-certified dentist in Lansing advises that the best beverage for your oral and overall health is fluoridated water. Water aids in rinsing away harmful bacteria and helps your body create more saliva to protect and maintain soft and hard mouth tissues. If you must enjoy a warm, sugary beverage, consume it at once and be done. And chase it with some plain water afterward to rinse away residual sugar.
Mind Tooth Sensitivity
Feeling a painful sensation in your teeth could indicate a serious oral health condition that requires a trip to our dentist’s office in Lansing. When you drink or eat foods such as coffee or ice cream, you may feel a zing or painful aches. There are multiple causes for tooth sensitivity, but the condition usually is manageable with sensitivity-reducing toothpaste. The East Lansing family dentist near you advises patients to pay attention to the sensitivity and not ignore it. It could be a sign of an advancing condition that requires professional dental treatments.
General Dentist in Okemos, Lansing, and East Lansing, MI
Keeping your smile healthy during the winter is not difficult, but it does require some primary care and regular visits to your dentist for checkups and cleanings. If you are unsure of your oral health condition or need to schedule a checkup and cleaning, please contact the experienced Okemos dentist, Dr. Christine Tenaglia, by calling Tenaglia Smiles (517) 347-6733 or schedule an appointment today.