The holiday season is here and with that comes the time to partake in favorite traditions, pastimes, and parties – many of which involve festive goodies, sweet drinks, and oh-so-yummy treats.
Over-indulging in too many sugary snacks can put you at risk for tooth decay – but that shouldn’t stop you from enjoying a few more treats than you normally would.
You can keep these tips in mind and still enjoy yourself – your teeth will thank you!
- Be careful with those candy canes. They are irresistible to crunch on, but you wouldn’t want to break or chip a tooth. Savor them as an excellent breath refresher and try not to bite down.
- Drink your water. How many times have you heard this over the course of your life? Well, it is just as important, if not more so, to consume enough water when you are also consuming those holiday adult beverages like spiked eggnog and hot toddies. Alcohol can have a drying effect on the mouth, making you more vulnerable to cavity-causing bacteria. Balance this out with a healthy dose of water.
- Sticky foods = sticky teeth. Those gooey desserts linger on teeth longer than many other foods, contributing to tooth decay. Stay away from the super sticky snacks, or if you’re like most of us who must indulge, just follow that pecan pie with some water to rinse away the bad guys.
- Salty snacks need attention too. Chips, crackers, pretzels, etc. all contain carbs and starches. Make sure you floss after dinners and parties to get rid of the extra pieces these snacks can leave behind.
- In addition to keeping the cavities away, remember that your teeth are not tools and shouldn’t be used as knives or scissors when opening packages.
If the holidays come and go you think you went too food crazy (don’t worry, it happens), we’ll be here for you in the New Year to get your smile back in tip-top shape!