5 Tips to Enjoy Holiday Foods Without Ruining Your Teeth

What’s your favorite part of the holiday season? For many, it’s the sweet treats. Candy canes, cookies, and homemade pie are some of the many holiday foods that may pass through your office or home this time of year. As tasty as these treats are, they can do a lot of damage to your smile if you aren’t careful. So you don’t have to stop the festivities early due to an emergency dental visit, continue reading to learn five tips that will help you keep your smile healthy and bright.

Tip #1: Brush Regularly

Good oral hygiene is important any time of the year, but it may mean even more during the holidays. This is because the number of sweets you eat during this time of year will likely be higher than usual. Along with brushing twice per day for two minutes, consider brushing after each meal. This will get rid of food particles and plaque that have built up throughout the day.

Tip #2: Floss Often

You should also floss at least once per day. Consider doing this even more often if you know you’re going to do a lot of snacking. Neglecting to flow will leave around 40% of plaque on your smile, so make sure not to skip this important step of your oral hygiene routine.

Tip #3: Skip Sugary, Sticky, and High-Carb Foods

Sweet foods aren’t the only ones you have to worry about. Sticky treats get stuck on your teeth easily, which allows oral bacteria to feed on them for longer and release cavity-causing acids. Additionally, foods like bread and other carb-heavy treats break down into sugar in the mouth, so they are just as harmful as candy and cakes. Cutting back on these will expose your smile to less acid.

Tip #4: Eat Protein and Calcium-Packed Foods

Fill up your plate with foods that are full of calcium and protein. These will encourage healthy bones and teeth. Examples of holiday foods to eat include:

• Veggies like carrots, broccoli, peas, celery, asparagus, and Brussels sprouts
• Dairy products that are low in fat, like yogurt, milk, and cheese
• Lean meats like beef, chicken, or turkey
• Leafy greens like spinach
• Fish like salmon
• Beans

Tip #5: Drink Water

Drinking water is one of the best things that you can do for your smile. It helps wash away food particles as well as bacteria. It also helps prevent dry mouth, which occurs when you aren’t producing enough saliva. This keeps gum disease, cavities, and other oral health issues from developing.

Don’t let your smile go unattended during the holidays. With the above tips on holiday foods, you’ll be able to enjoy the season while keeping your smile looking lovely!

About the Practice

Dr. Julia Karpman, Dr. Matthew Scoles, and Dr. Marc Scoles are the dentists who lead the friendly, highly skilled team at Dental Essentials of Rocky Hill. They offer a range of treatments to keep your smile looking and functioning its best, such as restorative, cosmetic, and preventive procedures. Do you want to learn more about their services or to set up an appointment? If so, visit Dental Essentials of Rocky Hill’s website or call them at (860) 563-3766.