Holiday cookies, eggnog, and cakes galore — oh my! The list of temping food and drinks during the holiday season is long, and includes savory foods as well. All that good eating means you can definitely hit the point of “too much of a good thing,” unfortunately, and harm your teeth.
The good news? There’s a way you can enjoy your holiday faves while still preserving your oral health. It just takes awareness and following some simple guidelines.
At Modern Age Dentistry, Dr. Ali Saeghi and his caring team don’t only provide advanced routine, cosmetic, and emergency dental care, but they’re also invested in educating you on how to keep your smile healthy and beautiful.
What we eat impacts not just our teeth, but also our overall mouth health. When it comes to your teeth, however, damaging holiday culprits include:
Foods high in sugar cause cavities, and foods that are tough on your teeth, like hard candy and nut brittles, can break a tooth or damage a crown, dentures, or filling. Stretchy, chewy treats like taffy and caramel can do the same.
Acidic foods and drinks, such as citrus fruits, tomato sauce, and alcoholic beverages, work to wear away your enamel, the hard protective barrier on your teeth.
Now that we’ve described the minefield that holiday favorites pose to your teeth, you might feel discouraged.
Don’t worry, though, we’ve got news you can use that allows you to indulge in your favorite holiday foods in moderation, while still pampering your smile.
If you’re going to indulge in a toddy, a few sugar cookies, or some chocolate bark, try to do it while you’re eating a meal or within 30 minutes of finishing. This is a time when you produce more saliva, which helps neutralize the acids that the bacteria in your mouth produce. It also helps to wash away food particles more than if you were enjoying a treat at a random, isolated time.
We mentioned how acidic alcoholic beverages are, and they also dry out your mouth, which can increase your risk for tooth decay.
Drinking water while you enjoy an adult beverage is also good, as it helps wash away the acids from the alcoholic drink.
We explained that treats like nuts and hard candy can be a red flag for your dental restorations and can even break a tooth.
Try to curtail your consumption of these foods, and eat them with care. For example, you might want to try breaking a nut into several smaller pieces that are easier to chew and hopefully not as risky for your teeth.
Starchy foods, like chips and bread, can get caught between your teeth and lead to plaque buildup if they’re not removed.
This time of year, it’s critical to floss carefully and thoroughly every day — especially on those days you attend a holiday festivity! And while we’re talking about flossing, we might as well hit on brushing. The holidays are never a time to skip brushing, so be especially diligent about your oral health care at this time of year.
We’re not telling you to refrain from having fun and enjoying your favorite foods this holiday season — we’re just encouraging you to do so mindfully and to continue taking great care of your smile, just as you do the rest of the year.
We’re here when you need us. Call the Modern Age Dentistry office that’s most convenient to you — in West Hills, Atwater Village, and Ojai, California — and set up an appointment, or you can schedule one online.
