As the holiday season approaches, many of us are looking forward to traditions like spending time with family members, exchanging gifts, and most importantly, enjoying delicious food! Keep in mind, however, that indulging in too many unhealthy holiday foods can result in annoying cavities, or, even worse, a dental emergency. Being mindful of what you put on your plate can keep your smile healthy throughout the holiday season and into the new year. Here are five popular holiday foods you should avoid in order to protect your teeth.
Stuffing
This popular holiday side dish may not be particularly sugary, it can still seriously harm your pearly whites. Stuffing mostly contains carbohydrates, which are converted into sugars soon after entering your mouth. These sugar particles can linger on your teeth, fueling cavity-causing bacteria in your mouth and contributing to plaque buildup.
Candy Canes
It’s not exactly a secret that candy canes are pretty much pure sugar. Sucking on them bathes your teeth in sugar, giving bacteria ample time to create cavities. But that’s not the only way they can hurt your smile. Chewing on candy canes and other hard candies wears down your tooth enamel. One wrong move could easily leave you with a painful chip or crack in your tooth.
Eggnog
You may not be aware of just how much sugar eggnog contains. One serving usually has about 20 grams, which is almost the daily amount recommended by the American Heart Association. Unless you want to start the new year off with a mouthful of cavities, take it easy on the ‘nog!
Dried Fruit
While fruit contains plenty of mouth-healthy vitamins, dried fruit is significantly higher in sugars, including glucose and fructose. Additionally, dried fruit sticks to the surfaces of your teeth, feeding the bacteria responsible for tooth decay.
Pecan Pie
In terms of fall-themed holiday desserts, pecan pie is up there with pumpkin pie. However, because pecan pie is sticky, sugary, and hard, it’s one of the worst holiday foods for your teeth. Pecan pie traditionally contains corn syrup, which is extremely sugary and sticky. As you eat it, sticky sugars are deposited onto your teeth, where they cling long enough to fuel destructive bacteria. Plus, the pecans can be hard enough to weaken or even fracture your enamel as you chew on them.
Completely cutting out all of these holiday foods may feel impossible at this time of year, so try your best to simply enjoy them in moderation. Doing so can help your smile say merry and bright throughout the holiday season!
About the Author
Dr. Marc Thomas earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 1993 from the University of the Pacific. Since then, he has helped countless patients achieve pristine oral health. Today, he uses his extensive experience, state-of-the-art technology, and the latest techniques to provide his patients at Vista Dental Care with world-class dental services. If you develop an oral health issue this holiday season, don’t hesitate to visit Dr. Thomas’ website or give him a call at 775-626-3535.