Hello everyone! The weather has turned pleasant, the little chill in the early mornings and late evenings, and with all the big festivals arriving, everyone is super excited and super busy with all the preparations and planning. Add to that all the yummy delicacies and sweets, which are an integral part of our festivals :) All this leaves us with little time to take care of our oral health. But remember, it's even more important to take care of your oral health during this time of the year than the rest of the year !!! 

But how does one find time? The answer is simple. Following is a list of rules that one needs to follow to ensure perfect oral health, so that you can enjoy all the festivals and the sweets without any tooth-aches & pains- 

1) Brush your teeth twice-a-day and floss once-a-day with a fluoridated toothpaste. Do not miss brushing at bedtime at any cost!

2) Swish or rinse your mouth with water after a meal. Rinsing with water after eating will clear any loose food remnants stuck between teeth and goes a long way in maintaining optimal oral health.

3) Clean your tongue with your toothbrush or a tongue scraper to remove the white coating that can lead to bad breath. With all the socialising that we look forward to during festivals, bad breath is one thing that is best avoided. 

4) Let's not harm our teeth by opening of beer bottles or aerated drinks. As simple as it might sound, using a bottle opener instead of your teeth can help to avoid cracking and chipping of teeth. In extreme cases, cracked tooth can cause severe pain, and is an emergency.

At the same time, I would also like to mention that please do not use your teeth to open plastic packets of snack items. When done repeatedly, this can again lead to damage to your teeth.

5) Stay Hydrated- Drink lots of water and juices. The fluids will help wash away food particles and sugar from your teeth, thus protecting them from decay.

6) Don't miss your sweets, but EAT WISE! Festivals in India are incomplete without the mouthwatering snacks & sweets. The truth is, it is not much about the quantity of sugar we eat, but more about how long it remains stuck to our teeth. Try to have all sticky and sugary snacks & sweets preferably at mealtimes. That will help most of the remnants get washed away, due to the increased salivation while chewing. This, in turn, will prevent cavities 

7) Visit your Dentist- Schedule an appointment with your dentist for a professional cleaning and a general check up, preferably before the festivals. This will help detect any small cavities/ decay at an early stage. if left untreated, they will increase in size and can lead to further problems. Once filled, you can enjoy all the feasts without worrying about your teeth. 

Follow these simple, but golden rules to ensure perfect oral health during festivals  

Wishing all Happy & Healthy Festivals !!!