Is your smile ready to party?

This time of year can be pretty busy and most people will be out and about socializing and catching up with friends and family. Even if you don’t have much time to spare, you can still make sure your smile looks its best to celebrate and greet a brand new year. Here are some handy tips for oral health and teeth whitening for the holidays.

Get Up-to-Date with Check-ups and Hygiene Appointments

A check-up and hygiene appointment will only take an hour or so and it’s well worth keeping up-to-date. Dr. Cadigan will thoroughly check your teeth and gums and can pick up on any problems so they can be treated before the holidays. It could be an especially good idea to come and see us if you have a nagging feeling something is wrong as it could avoid the need for emergency dental care at a later date and will ensure you can tuck into all those tasty treats available at this time of year without any discomfort or pain.

A hygiene appointment is a nice way to keep your teeth and gums in great condition and it has the added advantage of helping to remove some minor stains from your teeth, giving them a bit of seasonal sparkle. It is also a good way of ensuring you have fresh breath which could be handy for any moments underneath the mistletoe.

Teeth Whitening for the Holidays

If you are looking to improve your smile, then teeth whitening could be the solution as it is relatively quick and non-invasive and a professional whitening treatment is very safe. Dr. Cadigan can assess your teeth for their suitability and will discuss how exactly this treatment could help you as everybody’s teeth will whiten slightly differently.

There are two ways you can whiten, as you may wish to opt for an in-office whitening treatment, or you can purchase a customised whitening kit to use at home. An in-office treatment can provide great results in just one appointment, but if you can’t spare the time then a home whitening kit will be just as effective and means you will be able to whiten at home, when it is convenient for you. The trays need to be worn for a few hours a day or sometimes they can be worn overnight. Everybody is different and some people prefer to whiten a bit more slowly. Generally the results take between two and three weeks. The custom fitted whitening trays can also be re-used at a later date when you wish to top up the results.

Don’t Neglect Your Regular Oral Care Routine

Even though you may be short of time, please don’t forget to brush at least twice a day and to floss once a day, especially as many people tend to snack more often over the holidays. Frequent snacking can be bad for your teeth, as they are more likely to be exposed to acids that will weaken your tooth enamel. More tooth friendly snacks include cheese, crunchy fruits and veggies and yoghurt based dips. If you can’t brush, it can help to rinse your mouth with plain water after eating something sugary or acidic.