The holidays are filled with fun, family, and food, which is why many of us gain a few pounds by the time January comes around. Unfortunately, not only are many sugary, starchy holiday foods bad for overall health, but they can damage your smile as well. Thankfully, making a few simple substitutions when choosing what to put on your plate this holiday season can make a huge difference in your oral health! Here are five holiday foods you should avoid or limit during the festivities, and which ones you should be filling up on instead to keep your smile safe.
Hard, Sticky, & Sour Candies
While no sugary treats are exactly good for your teeth, some are certainly worse than others. Hard, sticky, and sour candies are particularly damaging to enamel and notorious for leaving behind sugary residue on your teeth that’s difficult to clean off.
What’s more, eating too many candies can spoil your appetite for dinner! Turkey, chicken, and other soft protein are full of vitamins that boost oral health. Cut back on candy to save room for the main dish of your holiday meal to keep your pearly whites cavity-free!
Popcorn & Caramel Corn
A popular snack this time of year is popcorn and caramel corn. While these treats are delicious and usually relatively low calorie, they are bad choices for your oral health. Popcorn kernel shells can become wedged between your teeth and gums, which encourages the buildup of bacteria and a higher risk of problems like gum disease.
As the appetizers and snacks are set out, skip the popcorn and grab some cheese and nuts instead. These healthy snacks contain plenty of calcium, vitamin A, and other nutrients that can help build up your enamel and strengthen your teeth.
Candied Yams & Sweet Sides
When choosing which delicious holiday sides to enjoy with your turkey or ham, make sure you stay away from high-sugar options. Unfortunately, this includes candied yams, sweet potatoes with marshmallows, and ambrosia salad. Eating too much of these popular side dishes can dramatically increase your risk of tooth decay!
Be sure to choose more healthy side dishes, such as green bean casserole, low-sugar cranberry sauce, and other vegetables. Eating these options will encourage saliva production to wash away lingering particles in your mouth and promote better oral health.
Stuffing and Dinner Rolls
Most holiday meals have plenty of starchy side dishes to enjoy. Unfortunately, many people don’t realize that starch fuels the cavity-causing bacteria in your mouth just as well as sugar does! Over-indulging on dinner rolls, stuffing, and mashed potatoes can leave your smile full of tooth decay.
Avoiding these classic sides altogether is a difficult task for many of us. Instead, be sure to drink plenty of water while enjoying starchy side dishes to keep your teeth clean and cavity-free.
Pecan Pie & Crunchy Desserts
For many of us, the holidays wouldn’t be the same without our favorite festive desserts. Unfortunately, treats like pecan pie and crunchy gingerbread cookies are very bad for your teeth and gums. They leave sticky sugars in hard-to-reach areas of your mouth and wear down tooth enamel. Instead, choose smile-friendly desserts like pumpkin pie and soft sugar cookies to keep your pearly whites healthy!
About the Practice
At NeoSmile Dental Care, we strive to help our patients in Spring House and the surrounding communities prevent oral health issues before they start and maintain a healthy smile all year long. That’s why we recommend coming in for routine dental checkups and cleanings at least twice a year so we can spot and stop oral health issues as early as possible. However, should you find yourself with a painful or damaged tooth, don’t hesitate to give us a call for an emergency appointment and the fast relief you need. For more oral health holiday tips, we can be contacted via our website or at (215) 643-5220.
