Protect your teeth during the Dragon Year: Tips for Oral Care

This is the 4779th article of Da Yi Xiao Hu

The New Year is a festival full of joy and happiness, and food and candy are undoubtedly one of the protagonists of this period. However, while enjoying food, we should also pay attention to oral health. Especially during the busy holidays, do not neglect daily oral care. This article will provide you with oral science knowledge during the New Year to help you maintain oral health in the new year.

1. Oral hygiene precautions during the New Year

1. Brush your teeth immediately after eating sweets

During the New Year, candies and sweets can be found everywhere, but these New Year delicacies are often delicious foods for bacteria that cause tooth decay. Sugar decomposes in the mouth to produce acidic substances, which destroy the protective effect of the enamel layer of the teeth. Coupled with the attack of bacteria, tooth decay will come. Therefore, after eating candies and sweets, it is recommended to brush your teeth in time to remove sugar from the mouth and keep the mouth clean. In addition, the protective layer of children's deciduous teeth is more fragile than that of permanent teeth, but children's love for candies is irresistible, and parents should also control their candy intake to reduce the risk of tooth decay.

2. Develop a habit of gargling

It is recommended to develop the habit of rinsing your mouth after meals or snacks. Rinsing your mouth with water can help remove food residues in the mouth and reduce the chance of bacterial growth. During the Spring Festival, people often have dinner in restaurants or travel abroad, and rinsing your mouth is more convenient than brushing your teeth. You can use a separate mouthwash to assist in oral cleaning and improve the effect of oral care.

3. Don’t forget to brush your teeth every morning and evening during the holidays

During the long holidays, the pace of life may change, but no matter what, we must maintain good oral hygiene habits. Brush your teeth at least once in the morning and evening every day, and brush your teeth for no less than 2 minutes each time to ensure that the plaque and food residues in the mouth are thoroughly removed. During the Spring Festival, parents should also supervise their children's morning and evening brushing. For young children, parents can help them brush their teeth to ensure oral hygiene.

4. Use dental floss correctly in addition to brushing your teeth

Flossing is also an important way to keep your mouth clean. Flossing can remove food particles and plaque from the gaps between teeth that a toothbrush cannot reach. During the New Year, especially when eating fiber-rich foods such as meat and vegetables, it is easy for food to get stuck between teeth, so flossing is very beneficial.

5. Limit your intake of carbonated and sugary drinks

Carbonated drinks and sugary drinks (milk tea, fruit juice, etc.) contain a lot of sugar and acidic substances. Excessive intake of these drinks can easily lead to tooth decay and tooth sensitivity. During the New Year, try to limit the intake of such drinks. During the Spring Festival, the climate is dry, so drink more water to keep your mouth moist and clean.

6. Drink in moderation

Alcoholic beverages may become an indispensable part of New Year's parties. However, excessive drinking can lead to problems such as dry mouth, gingivitis and oral mucosal damage. Drinking in moderation is more beneficial to oral health. In addition, smoking can cause yellowing of teeth, bad breath, periodontal disease and other problems. In order to maintain oral health, it is recommended to quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption and develop good living habits.

7. Pay attention to children’s dental trauma

During the New Year, children often increase their physical activity. At this time, we should pay attention to children's dental injuries. If the front teeth are bleeding or broken, they should be taken to the dental emergency department for treatment in time. In addition, the permanent teeth that have completely fallen out should be soaked in milk or held in the mouth and taken to the hospital as soon as possible. This may preserve the activity of the dental pulp. Do not rinse repeatedly with tap water and do not let the teeth dry out.

8. Orthodontic tips for the New Year

If you or your child is wearing braces, be careful not to bite too hard food during the Spring Festival, otherwise the brackets (small squares attached to the teeth) may fall off. In an emergency, if the small wire or bracket in your mouth smacks your lips, you can use orthodontic wax or chewing gum to solve it; if the wire slips and smacks your lips, you can try to restore it with tweezers or cut the end short, and make an appointment with a doctor as soon as possible. If you are wearing invisible braces, remember to bring the braces box when you go out for dinner or travel to avoid losing the braces wrapped in napkins. If you lose them, ask the doctor if you can wear another one.

2. New Year's Diet Suggestions

1. Maintain a balanced diet

The various delicacies during the New Year often lead to an unbalanced diet. In order to maintain oral health and overall health, it is recommended to maintain a balanced diet during the holidays, with a reasonable combination of nutrients such as protein, fat, carbohydrates, and fiber to ensure that the body gets adequate nutrition.

2. Eat more calcium-rich foods

Calcium is an important component of teeth and alveolar bone, and adequate calcium intake is essential for maintaining dental health. It is recommended to eat more calcium-rich foods during the New Year, such as milk, yogurt, tofu, sesame, etc.

3. Eat foods containing vitamin C

Vitamin C helps repair and maintain gum tissue. Lack of vitamin C can easily lead to gum bleeding and periodontal disease. During the New Year, you can eat more fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C, such as citrus fruits, kiwis, strawberries, tomatoes, cabbages, etc.

Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents (2022) http://dg.cnsoc.org/index.html

4. Eat nuts in moderation

Nuts such as walnuts, almonds, cashews, etc. are rich in nutrients such as protein, unsaturated fatty acids, vitamin E, etc., and have a certain health care effect on teeth and periodontal tissues. However, it should be noted that nuts are high in calories and should be consumed in moderation. If you have loose teeth, you should not eat melon seeds or chew hard nuts.

In short, during the New Year, we should pay attention to oral health, develop good oral hygiene habits, eat a reasonable diet, quit smoking and limit alcohol, pay attention to children's oral health, etc. If you have toothache, swollen gums, dental trauma, etc., you should seek medical attention in time to avoid delaying the condition. Finally, I wish you all good teeth and good appetite, a happy New Year, and good luck in the Year of the Dragon!

(Contributed by Li Yongming and Liao Chongshan)

(Some of the pictures are from the Internet, and some are designed by Microsoft DALL E 3)

About the Author

Li Yongming, Chief Physician, Doctoral Supervisor

Director of the Orthodontics Teaching and Research Section, Tongji University Stomatological Hospital

Standing Committee Member of the Orthodontics Committee of the Chinese Stomatological Association

Chairman of the Orthodontics Committee of the Shanghai Stomatological Association

Member of the Stomatology Group of the Sleep Medicine Committee of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association