Holiday Foods to Avoid This Season

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Of course, you’re going to want to enjoy time with family over some yummy foods and drinks – but please do so carefully! This year we don’t need to just abide by social distancing guidelines, but we also need to be thoughtful with the foods we eat! Many foods and drinks we love during the holidays aren’t the best for your smile.

We want to ensure that all of our patients bring in the new year with their pearly whites intact, so we created this guide to help you choose healthy foods during the holiday season.

Foods to Limit During This Holiday

1. Eggnog: We know this is a holiday favorite, but the cream, sugar, and alcohol are a recipe for tooth decay. Alcohol does dehydrate you, so your salivary glands don’t function to the best of their ability after consuming. Saliva rinses our teeth to help keep them clean. The thick blend of cream and sugar clings to your teeth, and the sugar in the eggnog feeds the bacteria so they can run wild and corrode your teeth.
2. Caramel: You probably tell how this sticky, sugary food is damaging to your teeth. The sticky caramel goo works its way into the crevices in your mouth where it helps bacteria in your mouth thrive.
3. Candy Canes: I’m sure you know what we’re talking about when we say candy canes a sticky film on your face when you eat them. The sticky film also is going onto your teeth, and the sugar can do some serious damage to your pearly whites.
4. Carbonated Drinks: In addition to the sugar in champagne and soda, the actual bubbles cause an issue. Carbon dioxide is used during the carbonation process, and when you ingest this ingredient, your saliva converts it into a type of acid that is corrosive to your teeth.

Foods to Indulge in This Holiday Season

1. Nuts: Nuts are the perfect, nutrient-rich holiday snack. Nuts are rich in calcium and offer the bonus of manually scrubbing the plaque off of your teeth as you bite in.
2. Turkey: Turkey is loaded with tooth-healthy phosphorous. Enjoy!
3. Veggies: Veggies are a great option no matter the time of the year, they can definitely come in handy after you’ve finished eating! Since they require a great deal of chewing, veggies increase your saliva production, which we know helps rinse acid and bacteria out of your mouth.
4. Cheese: Cheese is high in calcium and boasts antibacterial qualities and a low pH balance. All these factors make this a great choice for your smile.

Your Trusted Dentist in Pueblo, CO

We know that the holidays are a special time to celebrate with your loved ones, which might include sharing favorite festive treats. So if you have the urge that you just can’t seem to shake to eat one of our “bad foods” during the holidays, that’s okay. Just be sure to follow it up with a thorough brushing 30 minutes after. After the holidays is the perfect time to get a professional dental cleaning. Advantage Dental Group is currently accepting new patients, contact us today to schedule your appointment!