The holiday season is that one time of year when people typically give themselves a pass to indulge in the types of foods and drinks they otherwise consume in moderation — as well as slack off a bit on their usual oral hygiene routine. However, the “holiday season” seems to get longer every year, with Halloween making significant inroads as an excuse to begin nibbling on candy and other sweet treats in mid-October.
Sound like someone you know? If so, this accounts for a good three months when your oral health habits aren’t so good! While you may think that some pumpkin pie here and some panettone there can’t hurt, you could be setting yourself up for some bad news during your next dental checkup if you’re not careful!
Not to put a damper on your fun, but being aware of what you’re eating and drinking during the holidays — and when you’re eating and drinking — will help prevent tooth decay and the dental plaque that also leads to periodontal (gum) disease. With that, here’s our advice for taking care of your teeth throughout holiday festivities, so you can enjoy a bright, healthy smile throughout the next year!
Remember to Brush
If you’re in the habit of brushing and flossing at least twice a day, you may find your routine disrupted come holiday season — especially if you travel to visit family, and/or have an active schedule of parties, dinners and other social events. Moreover, as mentioned earlier, the types of food and beverages commonly served at such gatherings tend to be high in sugar.
However, if you’re a regular reader of our blog, you’ll know from our blog post — “Common Dental Health Myths” — that sugar in and of itself doesn’t cause cavities. The trouble comes from how long the sugar remains in your mouth. If not removed by brushing soon after a meal or snack, sugar causes bacteria to produce acids that slowly eat away at your tooth enamel, making your teeth more susceptible to cavities.
Add to this the tendency to eat sweets throughout the day during this time of year. Cookie and candy trays show up at the office, friends and family members drop by with gifts of baked goods and chocolate, or you’re baking for others — so how can you resist a little for yourself? You get the idea.
Whether you’re at work or a holiday party, one good way to make sure you don’t miss brushing is to create a little kit that contains a toothbrush, travel-size toothpaste and floss. Absolute Dental points out another advantage of taking a brushing kit with you.
“Not only will this make you rescue-ready if you end up with spinach dip wedged between your two front teeth, but it will help you remember to care for your teeth during this particularly hectic time of year.”
Yes, preventing embarrassment and cavities is a true win-win situation!
However, WebMD recommends chewing sugar-free gum — which boosts saliva production, helps flush out food debris, etc. — if brushing isn’t an option. Sugar-free cinnamon gum, in particular, is beneficial because it contains cinnamaldehyde, which can help fight bacteria that cause tooth decay and gum disease. Cinnamon gum can also help kill bacteria and germs that cause bad breath — which comes in handy when you can’t resist going for the garlic dip!
Also, drinking water and swishing it around your mouth rinses out some amount of sugar to prevent it from lingering, but of course is no substitute for brushing your teeth.
Sweet Treats that Can Turn Against Your Teeth
Although sugar itself doesn’t cause tooth decay, there are some foods that are especially problematic. The following list — provided courtesy of Berdy Dental Group and Brad Judy DDS — also includes foods and drinks that can harm your teeth in other ways.
Candy canes — Seemingly everywhere this time of year, candy canes can crack your teeth if you bite down wrong. It’s better to let hard candies of any kind dissolve to prevent chipping or other damage — but brush thoroughly afterward, or at least rinse your mouth with water. If you have small children, supervise them as they eat candy canes, peanut brittle, etc., to be sure they don’t bite down immediately. Your kids might think you sound like the Grinch, but a good basic rule is to not allow them to have this kind of confection until they’re old enough to understand the risk of cracking and chipping their teeth.
Canned fruit — It’s fruit, so it’s got to be good for you, right? When packed in sugary syrup, canned fruit is basically candy, which negates any health benefits. Hopefully, you intend to brush your teeth soon after the holiday meal those canned cranberries accompanied — especially if they were served still in the shape of the can!
Popcorn — Although popcorn is a year-‘round snack, it’s especially abundant during holiday season, typically in its most tooth-damaging variation — which is caramel-coated and sugary. Even without the additional sticky sweetness, popcorn is notorious for cracking teeth when biting down too hard on a half-popped kernel. The pieces of husk also cause problems, as they can get painfully lodged in your gums.
Seltzer —While this low-calorie drink is trendy, it is, unfortunately, not great for your teeth. A study by the University of Birmingham found that exposure to carbonated waters, like seltzer, can be as damaging to teeth enamel as orange juice. In addition to tooth decay, seltzer water has been linked to bloating and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Sodas and sweet tea — These beverages are certainly not limited to the holidays. Because they tend to be consumed regularly, they are perhaps among the biggest overall threats to your oral health. For example, did you know that a can of Coke has about 12 teaspoons of sugar? Sweet tea is not much better. Stick to water or unsweetened tea.
Sticky candies — These are really tough on teeth because as you eat them, they stick all over the surface of your teeth and won’t budge. Dried fruits — like cranberries and raisins — have the same effect, as they will stay stuck in the grooves of your teeth. The longer the contact the sweets have with the teeth, the more acid gets produced by bacteria, leading to cavities.
Sweet coffee drinks — Coffee is something you sip on and enjoy slowly, which can create problems for your teeth. Constant exposure to milk and sugar over the course of an hour or more make it difficult for the saliva to combat the sugars and acids produced by the bacteria in our mouths. Your saliva helps protect teeth from decay, but it can’t do its job as you continually sip from your coffee cup. Particularly keep this in mind if you’re a coffee lover who runs on sweetened coffee every day of the year!
Don’t Want to Tear Yourself Away from the Party to Look for a Bottle Opener? Your Teeth Can’t Do the Job!
It never pays to be impatient. There’s a lot of activity at holiday parties and family gatherings, so you may not want to take the time to look for a bottle opener or scissors, and use your teeth instead. Resist this temptation. Nothing spoils the fun faster than a dental emergency resulting from cracking or seriously chipping one or more teeth while doing something your teeth are not intended to do! We don’t mean to sound scolding, but such lapses in judgment often occur after indulging in a couple of adult beverages. Even if your celebrations don’t include alcohol, keep such basic implements handy so they’re easily within reach when needed, and no one is inclined to “make do” with their pearly whites!
‘Tis the Season to Indulge, but be Smart!
No one is asking you to completely forgo the sweet, cakey, gooey, chocolatey goodies you’ll encounter now through New Year’s Eve — just savor them responsibly, and remember to include some healthier fare that will offset their effects! Here are two recommendations.
Drink water — Maintaining proper hydration is always important, but drinking water with meals and while snacking will — as mentioned earlier — help rinse away sugars. Moreover, it creates a feeling of fullness that can prevent you from going back for seconds (or thirds) at the holiday buffet.
Reach for some cheese — Choose cheese to snack on if you’re having alcoholic drinks at parties. The pH balancing effects help neutralize the acid that’s in adult beverages, and the calcium is good for your tooth health. Cheese is rather high in fat and calories, however, so consume that in moderation, as well!
Just remember — keeping up with your oral care routine is key to enjoying this special time the right way! Maintaining good oral hygiene doesn’t require much extra effort, and will pay off with both the optimal oral and physical health you need to accomplish all you want to during the coming year!
At NK Family Dental, it is our mission to provide the highest quality and most compassionate oral care to our Chicago patients, including both dental and periodontal services. Our practice is trusted for advanced oral surgery procedures and comfortable root canal treatment.
Our team of experienced, dedicated dental professionals will help address your oral health concerns, and determine the best solution for you based on your individual situation. We strive to identify treatment options that fit your needs. Our dental specialists include our general dentist, Dr. Nilofer Khan, our endodontist, Dr. Sabek, and our periodontist, Dr. Amir Danesh. Dr. Danesh is a board-certified periodontist and Diplomat of the American Board of Periodontology. He has contributed to the publication of two books, as well as published over 20 papers in prestigious dental research journals.
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