Top Holiday Foods That Dentists Recommend Avoiding

Top Holiday Foods That Dentists Recommend Avoiding

By admin December 16th

The Holiday Season is a time of cheer and joy for most, a time when we give back to ourselves and others and try to remember the ways of generosity, peace, and goodwill, and if there’s one thing we’re all generous with during the holiday season, it’s food. Cuisine is a large part of any culture’s holiday traditions, and in celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas, our diets tend to let loose. The holidays are filled with sweet treats and wholesome meals which help us to stay cheerful through the otherwise dreary winter conditions. And while there’s nothing wrong with indulging yourself a little during the holidays, many of these festivities can wreak havoc on your dental and oral health. By monitoring a few key holiday foods, you can help yourself to avoid tooth decay, and unexpected dental visits, over the holiday season.

Bourbon and Other Adult Holiday Drinks

While Christmas is a time for celebration, and bourbon is a perfect addition to the holiday classic eggnog, drinking an excess of spirits over the holidays can lead to acid erosion of the teeth as well as create a dry, bacteria-rich environment in the mouth leading to tooth decay and cavities.

Candy Canes and Other Hard Candies

A favorite of many during the Christmas season, candy canes make for both a great decoration and great eating; however, this holiday classic may be more risky for your teeth than you realized. The high sugar content of the candy provides the perfect source of food for bacteria to grow and spread. What’s more, these bacteria actually convert sugar into acid when eating, leading to acid erosion of enamel, tooth decay, and cavities. Biting and chewing on these candies can lead to chipped or fractured teeth and damage to the jaw.

Gumdrops, Dots, and Other Super-Chewy Candies

Just like hard candy, the high sugar content of your favorites soft candies is a haven for bacteria, and the sticky nature of these treats can lead to bits of candy lurking around in your teeth long after you’ve gone on about your day, prolonging the issue. The excessive chewing required to eat soft candies can also increase strain to the jaw, and add to the stress of conditions such as TMJ.

Corn on the Cob

While it may seem like more of a Thanksgiving food, corn on the cob is still well enjoyed across the country through the winter as autumn harvests provide a steady supply of the famous crop throughout the season. And while it is a well-known food to avoid with braces, corn on the cob should also be food you are wary of even with the healthiest of smiles. Hard biting is the issue here, as it is possible to chip teeth, pull out fillings, crowns, or braces brackets, and bend wires due to the tough nature of this vegetable. In addition, corn gets stuck in the teeth very easily and can be difficult to remove, providing fuel for bacteria to grow. Make sure to brush and floss meticulously after eating corn on the cob. Or, as most dentists would suggest, just cut it off the cob, you’ll have an easier time keeping your teeth clean.

Dried and Candied Fruits

While they may be a healthier alternative to candies and confections, dried and/or candied fruits usually have enough sugar content to be a cause for concern, and just like your favorite soft candy, the chewy nature of dried fruits can make them hard to clean out of your teeth.

Eggnog, Hot Chocolate, and Other Dairy

Eggnog and hot chocolate both contain high amounts of sugar which leads to the usual tooth decay, but the dairy contents of these drinks can also lead to bad breath. Also, the added acidity from lactic acid can further tooth decay from sugars. Even baked goods, like cookies, cakes, and other confections can have enough dairy content to cause these symptoms, and crumbs can be difficult to clean thoroughly.

Fruitcake

When it comes to people’s opinions on fruitcake, you either love it or you hate it. There’s no doubt, though, that your teeth are not big fans of the super-sugary, sticky holiday dessert. Known to break or pull off crowns, brackets, wires, and fillings, if you must have your slice of this holiday tradition pay extra attention to your teeth afterward.

The holidays can be a stressful time for your teeth, and no matter how well you maintain your dental hygiene there is always the risk of detriment to your dental health during this festive season. Let our trusted staff here at Elko Dental Specialists help you maintain your healthy smile even through the Holiday Season. Schedule a visit with us or call us today at (755) 753-6118.

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