Hari Raya Puasa marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan and is celebrated here in Singapore. On this day, a lavish spread of food is served in each household to express the time of forgiveness and to strengthen bonds among relatives and friends.
Food is particularly significant during Hari Raya Puasa, and most families prepare goodies such as kuih and rendang. These types of food are primarily high in sugar content and sticky, which can directly impact your teeth and dental restorations. Sweet sticky foods can damage your teeth even more since they tend to stay on the teeth longer than other types of food.
Tips to Enjoy Hari Raya Puasa in Sinagapore while Protecting Your Smile
With the festivity season upon us, we are bound to overindulge in foods and sweets. Fortunately, there are ways you can indulge while still making healthy choices to stay healthy and take care of your pearly whites.
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Drink Smart
Festivities are rife with sweet beverages like soda, coffee, milk, and fruit juices. And the sugary substance in those drinks is never good for your teeth. If you want something bubbly, try sparkling water rather than soda. If you’re going to drink soda, use a straw to keep most of the acid off your teeth.
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Stop the habit of chewing ice
The outer layer of the tooth (enamel) may soften due to the acidity of the food you eat during Hari Raya Puasa festivities, which in turn can cause your teeth to chip off easily when you chew on ice. Excessive chewing of ice can also cause your dental crowns or dental veneers to chip off.
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Reduce frequent snacking
After eating, the acidity of the mouth increases, which makes the teeth more prone to developing tooth decay. It is recommended to take at least 2-3 hours of a break between meals so the saliva in your mouth can go back to a pH level at the acceptable range.
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Watch out for tooth-staining foods
You will find that many food items served during Hari Raya Puasa festivities are curry-based, tomato-based, and have spices like turmeric, which can stain teeth over time. Although porcelain dental veneers do not stain as easily as your natural teeth, they can still develop surface stains over time with prolonged intake of tooth-staining foods like Rendang, Masak Lemak, Asam Pedas, and Lontong.
These foods can also stain your tooth fillings and dentures.
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Dip into veggies
Add some colour to your table this Hari Raya Puasa by balancing your festive spread with colourful vegetables. carrots and spinach are great treats for your teeth because they’re loaded with Vitamin A which strengthens your enamel. Plus, they’re soft enough to not chip off any of your Veneers and Crowns.
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Drink a lot of water
Drink water before you feel thirsty. By the time you feel thirsty, you are likely dehydrated. A dry mouth can affect the pH level in the mouth and promote tooth decay in the long run.
Drinking water can also help wash away any tooth-staining components adhered to your teeth and food particles stuck in between your teeth.
Surviving Hari Raya while wearing Invisalign
Wearing Invisalign? Here are some tips on enjoying the Hari Raya feasts with your clear aligners.
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Remove Aligner Before Eating
One of the most important rules about Invisalign is to take them out before you eat or drink to protect both the trays and your teeth. It can be challenging during the Hari Raya Puasa festivities, wherein instead of two to three regular meals, eating can go on all day. But breaking this rule can also damage your trays.
You should also watch out on beverages during these festivities. It may be tempting to drink without taking out your Invisalign trays. Fluids can seep underneath your Invisalign trays soaking your teeth for longer periods of time. The longer decay-causing sugars and bacteria remain in contact with the teeth, the greater chances for cavities to form.
Hot beverages can deform your Invisalign clear aligners. Deformed Invisalign trays won’t do their job to straighten the teeth and can even move your teeth to the wrong direction. To keep your trays in their best shape possible, take them out every time you snack or sip a drink. Not to mention that coffee and tea can stain your Invisalign trays.
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Don’t Forget Your Invisalign Case
Avoid the stress of losing your Invisalign trays and always protect them. If you take them out, make sure you’re mindful of where to place them. That’s where your Invisalign case becomes handy. Always pop in your trays to their case when not in use. Avoid wrapping them in tissue napkins as it is prone to be thrown away unintentionally.
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Wear Your Trays for 20-22 Hours a Day
Hari Raya Puasa festivities also mean more socializing, which might make people want to leave their Invisalign at home. Keeping them out too long can undo your progress, and in some cases, when the trays are put back in, you might feel some discomfort because the teeth have moved back to their previous position.
To prevent too much disruption in your progress, wear the trays whenever you can and try to achieve the minimum hours to be worn per day.
Don’t let Dental Mishaps Ruin your Hari Raya Puasa Festivities!
Book an appointment with one of our dentists before the festivities to ensure your pearly whites are in tip-top shape. The last thing you want is to worry about a dental emergency while at a family gathering.
During your appointment, any dental concern can be identified and treated before becoming a bigger problem which will save you time and prevent the agony of something painful happening.
With the festivities approaching, now is the time to refresh your smile with a professional teeth whitening treatment. Here at Orchard Scotts Dental Singapore, we use White Glo™ Tooth Whitening that can whiten your teeth and make you smile-ready for the festivities.
And just because you have Invisalign aligner trays, Dental Veneers, or Dental Crowns doesn’t mean you need to restrict your enjoyment of the festivities. With a bit of pre-planning and care, you can eat, drink, and enjoy the Hari Raya Puasa!
Selamat Hari Raya!
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