This weekend Rochester residents will don something green and enjoy drinking green beer with their friends. In fact, downtown Rochester will host Irish Fest 2012, where you can find gourmet Irish food and traditional folk dancing in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. Did you know that St. Patrick’s Day has been celebrated for centuries? As many of our patients celebrate, Dr. Gilly Calcagno and our team at Calcagno Cosmetic & Family Dentistry offer some interesting trivia about this holiday and helpful hints for keeping your teeth healthy during a night on the town.
Historical St. Patrick’s Day Facts
- Historians speculate that St. Patrick was born around 385 A.D.
- Despite common belief, St. Patrick was not Irish—he was British.
- St. Patrick is revered as the patron saint of Ireland because he spent his life converting Irish people to Christianity.
- His religious fervor is due in large part to spending six years as a slave in Ireland. When St. Patrick escaped from captivity, he adopted a very religious lifestyle.
- Around 30 million Americans profess having Irish heritage.
- The United States has celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with parades and cultural events since the Revolutionary War.
Protect Your Oral Health this St. Patrick’s Day
Your teeth are surrounded by a protective layer of enamel. Beer and other alcoholic beverages are acidic and can damage your teeth by weakening tooth enamel. To neutralize acid in your mouth, we suggest that you drink water throughout the night. Additionally, chewing sugarless gum may benefit your teeth as well. When you chew gum, your mouth naturally produces more saliva, which helps dilute acids. Dr. Calcagno strongly urges you to remember to brush your teeth and floss when you return home from festivities so that bacteria, acids, and starches don’t wreak havoc on your oral health whilst you sleep.
To schedule an appointment, contact our Rochester dentist office at (507) 281-3659. We serve patients from Red Wing, Hastings, Farmington, St. Charles, and Rochester. Have a happy and safe St. Patrick’s Day!
