Healthy Smiles During the Holidays: Enjoy the Season, Protect Your Smile

Holiday meals and family gatherings often come with sweet treats, more snacking, and changes to daily routines. A few simple habits can help you enjoy your favorite holiday foods while protecting your teeth.

This November educational bulletin from the CareGuard Initiative explains why the timing of sugary foods and drinks matters for oral health. It offers practical tips for the holiday season, including enjoying sweets with meals, choosing water, limiting frequent snacking, and keeping up with brushing and flossing while traveling.

The bulletin also includes a Holiday Smile Checklist, a Myth vs. Fact section on sugary snacks, and guidance on what to do if a dental emergency happens during the holidays. The monthly Healthy Smile Challenge gives readers five simple habits to practice throughout the season.

The CareGuard Initiative makes preventive oral health information easy to understand and share with individuals, families, caregivers, healthcare professionals, schools, and community organizations.

Read the bulletin online below or download the free PDF to share with your family, friends, patients, school, or community organization.