It’s well into December, so chances are you’ve noticed the holiday season’s arrival. People are now decorating their homes, listening to festive music, and buying many gifts for their loved ones! Perhaps the most obvious change, though, is the holiday foods and treats on offer. These items not only taste sweet but might harm your teeth. As such, you’ll want to enjoy them without hurting your pearly whites. Thankfully, your Mt. Holly dentist can help you do just that. Here’s a summary of four holiday-eating tips that protect your smile.
Avoid Sticky & Hard Foods
Many holiday sweets have sticky, hard, or gummy textures — just think of candy canes, gum drops, gingerbread cookies, etc. Unfortunately, that fact means said foods are risky for teeth.
You see, these desserts are bad enough due to their high sugar content. (Remember, the white carb erodes tooth enamel.) However, brittle and sticky consistencies make them linger on teeth, thus giving bacteria more time to damage your enamel.
Chew Sugarless Gum
If you really need to satisfy your sweet tooth, there are smile-friendly ways to do so. For example, chew on some sugarless gum rather than chocolate and whatnot. The item has some surprising oral health benefits.
Besides being sugar-free, the gum in question can act as a teeth cleaner. When you chew it, your mouth will produce saliva to flush out food debris. Plus, non-sugary gum often has xylitol which inhibits the growth of harmful oral bacteria.
Fill Up on Meat & Veggies
It’s important to remember that some holiday foods aren’t bad for teeth. Therefore, you might want to fill up on these products instead of the sugary stuff.
Consider turkey, for example. Besides being a Thanksgiving and Christmas staple, this meat is chock-full of protein and phosphorous — nutrients that strengthen your jaw and teeth.
On the other hand, you can always have some vegetables. Greens like broccoli and carrots have vitamin A that protects enamel. Meanwhile, others contain folate, zinc, and iron, which lower your gum inflammation risk.
Stick to Your Dental Routine
Along with most people in the U.S., you likely do a lot of traveling during the holidays. This habit often makes oral hygiene tricky, as it can disrupt your regular dental routines. Still, you must maintain dental care amidst the hustle and bustle. For that reason, remember to brush twice daily, floss once daily, and rinse with mouthwash as needed. Keeping up with these practices will eliminate food bits and plaque that threaten your smile.
You don’t need to swear off all holiday foods to keep your teeth healthy. As long as you follow the tips above, you can eat them while ensuring your smile is safe!
About the Practice
Mt. Holly Family Dentistry is based in Mt. Holly, NJ. As led by Drs. Adam Cygler, Janice Choi, and John Genco, our office delights in meeting patients’ dental needs. Therefore, we provide the highest-quality preventive, cosmetic, and restorative treatments, not to mention emergency tooth procedures. The team is also certified to provide Invisalign clear aligners! For more information or to book a visit, you can reach us on our website or by phone at (609)-267-3230.