It’s that time of year when sweets abound. Whatever holiday you celebrate, there is good chance you will be in the presence of a smorgasbord of sweet treats at one point or another. Maybe you’ll be faced with choices at the office holiday party, a family get-together, a raucous gathering of friends, or a New Year’s celebration. All you need to know is that plenty of those delicious and tempting treats can do a serious number on your enamel, your teeth, and your smile as a whole (not to mention your waistline).
4 of the worst (but tastiest) foods for your teeth in Manhattan >>
Worst Holiday Foods and Beverages for Your Teeth
You know what your biggest weakness is during the holidays. Maybe you just have to have eggnog. Perhaps you’re a chocolate chip cookie kind of gal. If you want to play with fire, here are some of the worst holiday foods for your teeth:
- Fruit cake: Don’t allow the name to deceive you. The fruit in fruit cake isn’t that healthy. Full of chewy pieces of sticky, candied fruit, this sugar-heavy dessert is often flavorful but nearly always a bad bet for teeth. You could easily pull out a tooth-colored filling or even pop off a porcelain crown.
- Eggnog: Cousin Eddie put eggnog on the map in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, but you may want to leave it right there in the Griswold’s house. Full of sugar and fat, eggnog is a drink that loves to linger on your teeth, which means your enamel is getting a nice, long sugar bath.
- Alcohol: Any kind of booze can reduce the flow of tooth-cleansing saliva in your mouth. While red wine can be staining enough for your enamel, spiking the eggnog or dousing the fruit cake with alcohol makes those “naughty” foods doubly dangerous for teeth.
- Hard candy: Whether it’s candy canes or small pieces of hard candy, these sweet treats are a double whammy for oral health. Not only does sucking on hard candy for long periods of time bathe your teeth in sugar and bacteria, but then there is the risk of biting down on the candy and potentially cracking a tooth. If you manage to escape without a break, then you still have to dig out the sugary bits that are stuck between your teeth.
- Popcorn balls: Pop the popcorn, make chains, and decorate the tree or the house. Keep that crunchy stuff away from your teeth though, especially when in the shape of a popcorn ball. Often molded together with sticky, sugary caramel, popcorn balls are a bad recipe all around for your teeth. If you happen to get a stray popcorn kernel in the piece you’re gnawing on, don’t be surprised if you chip or crack a tooth.
A new smile: Your best holiday accessory >>
Best Practices for Holiday Eating
Maintaining your oral health – and your diet – during the holiday season can be challenging, but you don’t have to succumb to every sweet treat that is handed your way. Preventive dentistry is one of the best ways to combat snacking. Be sure to keep up with your at-home brushing and flossing routine throughout the season, and see your dentist regularly for check-ups and teeth cleanings.
You can still indulge and treat yourself during this festive time of year without going crazy or endangering your teeth in the process. Some tips:
- Brush and floss a little more than just twice a day. If you’ve gone heavy on the meal or snacks, brush and floss immediately afterward.
- Drink plenty of water, especially if you can’t brush and floss. Water won’t do everything, but it can help rinse sugars and food particles from your teeth and neutralize acids that have built up in your mouth while eating.
- Have set times for eating and keep the snacking to a minimum. If you munch on foods all day long it may seem like a good move for your diet, but your teeth will be bathed in sugars and acids all day long.
- Mix the yummy with the healthy and stack your plate with high-fiber fruits and veggies too that act like natural “brushes,” like celery and carrots. These foods increase saliva production, which is your mouth’s natural cleanser, and scrub your teeth as you bite and chew.
When you’re ready to spruce up after the holidays and prep for the new year, make an appointment with Dr. Michael J. Wei at his Manhattan cosmetic dental office for your dental exam and professional teeth cleaning.
