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The holiday season is here, with all that festive food and drink!
Roasted turkey with the trimmings. Slow-cooked beef brisket. Jerk chicken and fried plantains. Pumpkin pie and sugar cookies. Candy canes and gingerbread. Sufganiyot and Hanukkah gelt. Hot chocolate, hot cider, and eggnog.
Whatever delicacies and treats your mouth waters for this season, whatever decadent desserts and celebratory toasts you’re anticipating, remember: Constant exposure to starchy, sugary, and acidic treats can pose significant challenges to oral health.
Fortunately, following some simple holiday oral health tips helps keep the season merry and bright for you and your mouth.
Decay-Causing Bacteria Don’t Take a Long Winter’s Nap
What you eat, when you eat it, and how you care for your teeth afterward can make the difference between a season of smiles and a new year filled with dental visits.
Cavity-causing bacteria feed on sugars found in holiday foods, both foods that are already sugary, like cookies, cakes, and candy, and starchy foods that break down into sugars, like potato dishes and special breads.
As bacteria metabolize these sugars, they produce acids that attack tooth enamel (the teeth’s hard, protective outer layer). This process, called demineralization, weakens tooth enamel and, over time, can lead to cavities.
It’s impossible to say how much extra sugar finds its way into our diets during “the most wonderful time of the year.” But the season’s opportunities for increased sugar consumption are many, making these holiday oral health tips all the more important.
1. Minimize Duration of Your Sugar Exposure
Instead of snacking on cookies and other goodies throughout the day, enjoy them with a meal. During a meal, saliva production increases, helping neutralize acids and wash away food particles. As a result, cavity-causing bacteria have less time to do damage.
Similarly, reduce the amount of time sugary drinks come into contact with your teeth. Carbonated drinks are bad for your teeth, so sip them through a straw set toward the back of your mouth. A straw won’t keep sugars off your back teeth, but it will limit how long sugars touch them. Don’t nurse your drink; finish it quickly, and rinse with water when done.
2. Stay Hydrated With Healthier Beverages
You don’t need to refuse all cocoa, wassail, or wine. But such drinks are often high in sugar and acid, and contribute directly to tooth erosion, wearing away enamel even without the help of bacteria.
Among drinks that are good for your teeth, water is your best possible choice. It contains no sugar, helps rinse away food debris, and keeps you hydrated, which is essential for saliva production.
3. Include Foods for Oral Health on Your Holiday Menus
Balance your plate with foods that are good for teeth. For example, a cheese board makes a great holiday appetizer. Cheese helps stimulate saliva production and contains calcium and phosphates that strengthen tooth enamel.
Crunchy vegetables like carrots, celery, and bell peppers are also foods good for oral health. They act as natural toothbrushes, scrubbing away plaque (the sticky biofilm bacteria form on teeth) as you chew.
And including lean proteins, nuts, and leafy greens in your holiday meals provides essential minerals like calcium and phosphorus, vital for maintaining strong teeth and gums.
4. Approach Some Foods With Caution
Some holiday foods do pose greater threats than others. Sticky treats like caramels, toffee, and even dried fruit in fruitcakes (yes, much-maligned fruitcake has its fans!) cling to teeth, giving bacteria a continuous feast. This extended sugar contact dramatically increases the risk of plaque buildup and tooth decay.
Similarly, hard candies like candy canes or peanut brittle are problematic. Not only do they bathe your teeth in sugar as they dissolve, but biting down on them can lead to chipped or broken teeth, turning a holiday treat into a dental emergency.
5. Make a Point of Post-Treat Rinses
When you do choose to indulge in a sugary or acidic treat, rinse your mouth with water afterward. Swishing water for 30 seconds helps to neutralize acids and dislodge food particles stuck to your teeth.
Also, don’t brush your teeth right away. Doing so can spread the acid and damage softened enamel. However, a simple water rinse is safe. Then brush about a half hour later.
6. Don’t Use Your Teeth as Tools
The Nutcracker is a beloved holiday ballet, but you shouldn’t use your teeth to crack nuts—or open packages, or tear off a piece of adhesive tape in a rush. Using teeth as tools can easily lead to chips, cracks, or fractures, requiring an emergency dental visit.
7. Keep up Your Oral Hygiene Routine
A consistent oral hygiene routine is your primary line of defense against the onslaught of seasonal snacks and sweets.
Brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes with a fluoride toothpaste. Proper brushing removes plaque that contributes to tooth decay and gum disease.
Flossing at least once a day is also crucial. It cleans the tight spaces between your teeth and under the gumline where toothbrushes can’t reach, removing trapped food particles and preventing plaque from hardening into tartar.
Put Penn Dental Family Practice On Your List of Holiday Visits
As you make your list (and check it twice) of holiday destinations, be sure to include Penn Dental Family Practice.
At PDFP, our expert dental professionals will perform thorough cleanings to address any plaque buildup from holiday treats and will assess the overall state of your dental health.
And keeping your regular dental appointment even amid the season’s hustle and bustle will help ensure your dentist can catch and treat any problems before they become worse.
You can schedule your next or your first PDFP appointment online or call us at 215-898-PDFP (7337).
When you follow the holiday oral health tips we’ve shared, you can help your smile stay vibrant and your mouth stay healthy, happy, and bright long after the season’s lights have come down.
