The holidays are here again, and with them comes all kinds of delicious and tempting things to eat and drink. But do you know which holiday foods are the worst offenders when it comes to your teeth?
Here are the top five things to avoid (or at least watch out for) this holiday season:
You probably already know all about the effects sugar can on your teeth, and you'll notice sweets showing up more than once on this list, but holiday treats like caramels, gummy candy, or dried fruit can cause extra trouble for your teeth just by sticking around in your mouth. Try to choose sweets that don’t linger, like chocolate, instead.
You may be surprised to learn that it’s not just sugary foods that can affect your teeth, starchy items like soft breads, potato chips and rice can do some serious damage as well. Similarly to sticky sweets, starchy snacks can get stuck in your teeth, providing a holiday feast to bacteria in your mouth and accelerating tooth decay.
On top of the regular issues that they share with their softer, stickier cousins, hard candies carry an extra possible danger – they can chip or crack your teeth. Aggressively biting down on candy canes, Jolly Ranchers, lollipops, or any other hard sweet can cause fractures, breaks or other injuries, leaving your tooth in pain and vulnerable to tooth decay. If you’re eating hard candies, make sure to never bite down on them – let them dissolve naturally instead (before rinsing your mouth with some water).
In addition to being chock full of sugar, most soft drinks are acidic, meaning that they can wear away your tooth enamel just by being in your mouth. And, contrary to popular belief, using a straw instead of sipping won’t help you either. If you opt for something fizzy, always rinse with a neutral beverage like milk or water afterwards.
Alcohol does metabolize into sugar, and many alcoholic beverages are either acidic (like beer, wine and cider) or extra sugary (like most blended cocktails), which can cause tooth decay. But the main reason alcohol made our list is because it dries out your mouth. Dry mouth (or xerostomia) can mean big problems for your oral health, as saliva plays an important part in washing away harmful cavity-causing bacteria. If you’re celebrating with a few drinks this season, make sure to alternate every alcoholic beverage with a glass of water to replenish your saliva and wash away lingering acids and sugars.
If you’ve gone overboard on the sweets and treats this holiday season, don’t leave it for the new year – schedule a regular cleaning appointment today at either of our Winnipeg locations: St. Vital Centre or Garden City Shopping Centre. No matter the reason for your visit, we’ll make sure you leave with a confident smile.
Maybe it's time for your and your family's regular checkup and cleaning, you have a toothache or you need to get your treatment plan going - whatever the reason, we're here to help you get your confident smile. Whether you're a new patient or a returning friend, we can't wait to see you at your next appointment at either of our Winnipeg clinics!
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