The holidays are here, and that means plenty of food, drink, and fun for families with traditions from around the world. What it also means is plenty of opportunities to land your teeth in a sticky situation (sometimes literally).
Every year, patients come into our dental practice in Garden Grove with more cavities, more decay, and more problems in general. To avoid that, take some advice – keep the following foods, vices, and sweet treats to a minimum to avoid undue dental damage.
Candy Canes
Have you ever been eating a candy can, slowly and patiently melting it into a sharp point – only to get impatient, crunch down on the cane and grind its sweet, minty shards into a sugary cap for your tooth before peeling it off with your tongue and going in for the next section. While they might be a Christmas staple, candy canes and hard candy like them are a chipped tooth waiting to happen, and superfood for dental decay.
Bourbon and other hard, dark spirits
While many families love to add a little Bourbon to the eggnog, it’s unfortunately been shown to be a dangerous drink for your teeth. Bourbon will dry your mouth out, which reduces saliva and puts your mouth at risk for decay and gum disease.
Jujubees and other popular
Jujubees and other, similar candies frequently used to decorate gingerbread houses almost always require chewing, chewing, and more chewing to get their sugary goodness down. That means the sugar stays on your teeth longer, just like candy canes and provides valuable food for decay and cavities.
Hot Chocolate and Eggnogg
Combine dairy, sugar, and sometimes alcohol and you have the perfect environment for bad breath, a dry mouth, and accelerated decay.
It’s important to be careful, that’s all
The big deal with keeping your teeth safe during the holidays is simply being aware of the risks that are out there. Avoiding the need for treatments like dental crowns or dental restoration really only takes proper prevention – and preventing those prolonged period of damage (like during the holidays) is a great opportunity to get a jump start on perfecting your dental health.