Col. Gary Martin, DDS, MPH
Dental Care Division Director
TRICARE Management Activity
With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season
in full swing, it's possible to let
dental health slip your mind. However,
those delicious treats that we sample at holiday
gatherings are the same ones that can cause
problems for our teeth and, in some cases,
require an emergency dental appointment.
From candy-filled jack-o'-lanterns
at Halloween, to apple and pumpkin pie
during Thanksgiving, to holiday cookies and
sweets in December, our teeth are
challenged throughout the holiday season.
So, it's important to take a few
minutes a day to care for your teeth.
“Enjoy the holidays and their bounty,
but remember to practice good brushing and
flossing techniques, along with frequent
exposure to fluoride so you can keep your
teeth healthy,” said Dr.
Gary Martin, an Air Force Colonel,
dentist and TRICARE Dental Care Division
director.
When you eat, acid is produced in your
mouth through the interaction of bacteria
(plaque) and the food. This acid
attacks your tooth enamel, which can
lead to cavities. To lessen the chances
of tooth decay, Dr. Martin suggests
reducing the number of times you reach for
a snack during the holidays.
“It's not so much a quantity issue,
it's more a frequency issue,” said
Dr. Martin. “There are a lot of
kids today who are cavity-free. They
drink sodas and eat snacks, but they do it
in moderation and use proper oral hygiene.'
One way to help prevent dental problems when
you can't immediately brush your teeth is
to keep some chewing gum with Xylitol nearby.
Xylitol is a sugar substitute that can kill
the bacteria that leads to tooth decay.
Be careful when eating hard candies, sticky
caramels and nuts so popular during the holidays,
because one wrong bite can leave you with a cracked
tooth and a lot of pain.
However, if you do bite into something that
makes you say, “Ouch,”
don't worry-the TRICARE Dental
Program (TDP) is ready to help.
With a little thought and care, you can
keep smiling through the holiday season.
