Nowruz, the ancient festival of Iranians, is one of the most beautiful and joyful times of the year. During these days, families gather, Nowruz trips are planned, and colorful tables are set up with a variety of traditional foods and sweets. But unfortunately, regardless of all these joys, sometimes dental health care is neglected during Nowruz. That is, due to the change in lifestyle during this holiday and excessive consumption of sweets, nuts, and overall change in diet, the probability of oral and dental problems increases significantly. It was for these reasons that we decided to ask the opinion of experts in this article from Dr. Benianian's dental clinic website about the dangers that Nowruz Eid has for our teeth's health and, of course, golden tricks to maintain the health of teeth. So for more information, be sure to stay with us until the end of this article. The importance of taking care of the health of the mouth and teeth during Nowruz Teeth play a very important role in the overall health of the body. Proper nutrition, speech, facial beauty and even our self-confidence depend on the health of our mouth and teeth. But during Nowruz, due to the high consumption of sweets and starchy foods, teeth are at greater risk. Therefore, taking care of the teeth becomes doubly important in this period. Especially considering that improper eating habits and changes in oral hygiene routines can lead to decay and gum problems. So, if we do not pay enough attention to oral health during these days, we may face problems such as toothache, sensitivity, and even gum infections. Keep in mind that many dentists, especially in small towns and cities, are closed during Nowruz, and if there is a problem with your teeth, you may have to endure the pain until the end of the holiday! Now suppose that God forbid, one of the front teeth of your face breaks due to cracking a piece of hard nut! What do you want to do with that broken tooth until the end of Nowruz?! After all, do you know how much it costs to repair a broken front tooth? What dangerous events may happen to our teeth during Nowruz holidays? Maybe all our emphasis on taking care of the health of your teeth during Nowruz is strange to you! But the specialists of our clinic declare the reason for their emphasis on taking care of dental health during Nowruz is the increase in the number of patients visiting during this 2-week holiday. Most of these references had the same reasons in all Nowruz in recent years: ### 1. Increased consumption of sweets and sugary substances During Nowruz, the consumption of traditional sweets such as baklava, sohan, gez and various chocolates reaches its peak. Foods that contain high amounts of sugar create an ideal environment for the growth of harmful bacteria in the mouth. By feeding on sugar, these bacteria produce acids that weaken tooth enamel and lead to tooth decay. There is nothing wrong with consuming sweets as long as moderation is observed and the health of your teeth, stomach and body in general is not endangered. But the problem starts from the point where people don't take good care of their mouth and teeth after consuming these sweets due to traveling or sightseeing parties. It means they eat sweets, but they don't brush their teeth. That is, they eat nuts, but do not floss afterwards. Or, for example, they eat chocolate, but after that they do not clean their mouth with water! Therefore, the continuous and long-term consumption of these sweets without observing the hygiene principles can cause serious damage to the teeth. Nine Nowruz days alone! ### 2. Consumption of acidic drinks Unfortunately, during Nowruz holidays, various drinks such as carbonated soft drinks, industrial juices, and even tea and coffee are consumed more. These drinks are acidic and can damage tooth enamel. That is, the acid in these liquids gradually weakens the tooth enamel and leads to its gradual erosion. Finally, the sensitivity of teeth to hot and cold food increases, and the risk of tooth decay increases. Now imagine the combination of these drinks with sweets! A combination that doubles the destructive effect of both! ### 3. Non-observance of oral and dental hygiene routines Due to the fact that most of the people are either traveling or going to sightseeing parties during Nowruz holidays, people's daily plans and in other words their routine changes a lot. Changes that may cause neglect of oral and dental hygiene. The same sight, visits and trips are accompanied by the continuous consumption of foods that usually do not have a place in the daily life of many of us. After consuming the same food items outside of the routine, the food particles accumulate on the teeth and start to produce bacteria, acid, plaque and tooth tartar! Many people speed up the process of tooth decay in these two weeks by not brushing and flossing. ### 4. Breaking teeth due to eating hard foods One of the common habits of us Iranians during Nowruz is eating hard nuts such as pistachios, almonds and hazelnuts. But a more dangerous habit that many people fall into is breaking closed nuts with their teeth! A very harmful and dangerous behavior that can lead to cracked or even broken teeth. Injuries that not only affect the appearance of the teeth, but if left untreated, may cause severe pain and the need for expensive dental treatments or even tooth extraction. ### 5. dry mouth The last dangerous factor that is more likely to occur during Nowruz is mouth fatigue. But what does dry mouth have to do with Nowruz?! High consumption of sugary substances and carbonated drinks during Nowruz holiday reduces the secretion of saliva. Therefore, since saliva plays an important role in the natural washing of teeth, maintaining the balance of oral acidity and preventing the growth of harmful bacteria, reducing the secretion of saliva can create a suitable environment for the growth of bacteria and increase the risk of tooth decay. Of course, this is not the only complication caused by dry mouth! When less saliva is produced, the mouth becomes drier. A mouth that does not have enough moisture will be a bad smelling mouth that will make both the person and others suffer. Now imagine such a disaster for the days of Nowruz and right in the middle of seeing and visiting and kissing Nowruz!! **Read more:** Removing bad breath Golden tricks to keep your teeth healthy in Nowruz According to all the topics we have explained to you, we understand that there are some dangerous factors that increase the possibility of breakage, decay and bad breath during Nowruz. But what should we do to prevent these problems and keep teeth healthy during this two-week vacation? ### 1. Consume in moderation First of all, we should balance the consumption of sweet and acidic foods. That is, it is better to wash your mouth with water or use a toothbrush and floss to remove food residues after eating sweet and acidic foods. Paying attention to a healthy diet rich in nutrients such as dairy products, fresh fruits and vegetables can also help strengthen our teeth. So don't forget to eat these foods. As much as eating healthy foods is a priority for us, avoiding sticky and hard foods is also very important to maintain the health of our teeth during Nowruz. So we should reduce the consumption of nuts and hard chocolate pieces as much as possible. As long as the host does not get upset about not eating anything, let's not destroy our teeth in this vision and visits! ### 2. Do not neglect the toothbrush and dental floss Don't forget the habit of brushing and flossing even during New Year's trips and parties. Because maintaining oral and dental hygiene plays an essential role in preventing decay and bad breath. Brushing your teeth at least twice a day with toothpaste containing fluoride and using dental floss to clean the spaces between your teeth is one of the most important habits that should be maintained even during the busy days of Nowruz. Also, using suitable mouthwashes and going to the dentist to check the condition of the teeth are other measures that can maintain the health of the mouth and teeth during Nowruz holidays. **Read more:** Does brushing whiten teeth? ### 3. Drink more water Drinking enough water is one of the simplest but most effective ways to maintain teeth health and prevent oral problems during Nowruz. Drinking water not only helps to keep your mouth moist, but it also helps to wash your teeth naturally and reduce food residues and harmful acids in your mouth, making you unnecessary to do tooth restoration. So, in the days when the consumption of sweet foods, snacks and carbonated drinks increases, drinking water can help reduce the negative effects of these substances on the teeth and prevent premature decay. Of course, keep in mind that water plays an important role in saliva production. So, since water acts as a natural defense agent for teeth, it prevents the destruction of tooth enamel by balancing the amount of acid in the mouth. Drinking enough water prevents dry mouth, which can lead to bad breath and the growth of harmful bacteria, and helps to maintain the freshness and health of the mouth. Therefore, it is recommended to drink enough water during the day, especially after consuming sweet and acidic foods, to keep your teeth and gums healthy and prevent possible problems during Nowruz holidays. ### 4. Use sugar-free gum Chewing sugar-free gum is another effective way to maintain oral and dental health during Nowruz (when consumption of sweet snacks increases). By stimulating the production of saliva, sugar-free gum helps to wash the mouth naturally and reduces the remaining food particles and harmful acids caused by the consumption of sugary substances. In addition, chewing sugar-free gum after meals can help balance the acid level in the mouth and reduce the possibility of cavities. **Read more:** Is the tooth enamel lost, will it come back? ### 5. See a dentist Going to the dentist before or after the Nowruz holiday can prevent serious oral and dental problems. A periodical examination helps to identify hidden cavities, remove plaque from the teeth and check the health of the gums and prevent sudden pains and possible infections during the holidays. If you have a particular dental problem during Nowruz, it is better to visit the dentist without delay after the holidays to prevent the situation from getting worse. Maintaining this habit ensures oral and dental health throughout the year and reduces the need for complex and expensive treatments. ### 6. Do not brush your teeth after consuming acidic substances