3 Ways to Stay Healthy This Holiday Season

The holiday season is one filled of festive fun, family time, food, and fellowship among friends. It may also mean a calendar packed with parties, days of travel, and long excursions to the mall. The last thing you want during this joyous time of year is to get sick. At our dental offices in Highland Park and Chicago Heights, we’re not only focused on your oral health, but your overall health too, and with these tips, you can help keep your body in tip-top shape all holiday season long.

Squash the Stress

The hustle and bustle of the holidays can really take a toll on your ability to manage stress. But there are some easy ways to avoid succumbing to the craziness so you can keep your stress levels in check. First, make sure to stay within your holiday budget. This means managing the moolah spent on presents, food, and travel. The closer you stay to your established the budget, the less money-stressed you’ll be. Also, remember that a healthy balance between work and life is absolutely necessary for a stress-free holiday. Don’t overcommit to work obligations or overbook your limited free time.

Cookies, Candy, and Drinks! Oh My!

It’s common to walk into a holiday party and immediately be assaulted by heaps of food, drinks, sweets, and treats. While you’re completely expected to indulge in a little holiday feast, it’s important not to overeat or overdrink. A little secret from your dentist in Highland Park or Chicago Heights is to pop a piece of sugarless gum before heading to the buffet. Chewing the gum tricks your brain into thinking you’re already eating, which means you actually eat less. Along the same lines, avoid too many glasses of wine, eggnog, beer, hot cider, toddies, or Pimm’s Cup. The rule of thumb is to alternate each glass of alcohol with a glass of water and try limit yourself to two beverages per party.

Wash Your Hands

It’s always important to wash your hands, but during the holidays when we’re much closer to many more people, it becomes crucial. Keeping your hands free of germs is perhaps the best way to avoid getting sick. Wash well and wash often with soap and warm water, scrubbing for a least 20 seconds. Always disinfect your hands after you handle food, use the restroom, or interact with money or another person.

At our dental offices in Highland Park and Chicago Heights, we want you to have the best holiday season yet, and following these tips can not only help you stay healthy, but can make it much more enjoyable too. From our family to yours, we wish you a happy, healthy, and joyful season.

Accepting patients from Highland Park, Deerfield, Highwood, Chicago Heights, Crete, Park Forest, and surrounding areas.