5 tips for staying happy and healthy during the holidays

(BPT) – It’s not easy to stay healthy during the holidays. Sweets seem to appear everywhere you go, and with all the present-wrapping and card-writing, there’s not much time to devote to your health and well-being. Luckily, Hermey the Elf, best known for his adventures with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, joined forces with the American Dental Association (ADA) to come up with tips for keeping your mouth and teeth healthy during the holidays.

In the classic holiday TV special, Hermey dreamt of becoming a dentist and helping people keep their teeth healthy. In 2014, the ADA awarded Hermey with a Dental Do Gooder (DDG) for his passion for dentistry. This year, Hermey and the ADA came up with the following tips to help families keep their smiles in tip-top shape.

Have a routine. Hermey always brushes his teeth two times a day, for two minutes, and you should too! It’s what keeps your mouth healthy in December and all year long. Make sure to use a fluoride toothpaste that has earned the ADA Seal of Acceptance.

Choose the carrots. Cookies and sweets are nice holiday treats, but instead of reaching for another candy cane, take a cue from Rudolph and eat the carrots.

Don’t forget the dentist! The holidays can be a busy time, but that doesn’t mean you can forget about your teeth. If you are due for a teeth cleaning or need work done, don’t forget to visit your dentist in December.

Drink water. You need a lot of energy for holiday activities, but avoid drinking sodas, sports drinks and juices with lots of sugar. Instead, drink water with fluoride in it to keep your teeth strong and healthy.

Protect your teeth. Wear a mouthguard whenever you play sports – or reindeer games – this winter.

More advice from the ADA and Hermey the Elf, D.D.G., can be found on MouthHealthyKids.org/Hermey.