With the holiday season in full swing, most families find themselves awash in every kind of holiday treat under the sun. Lowitz & Meier, Cincinnati’s best family dentistry practice, warn that holiday sweets and candies wreak havoc on dental health.

Here, the family dentistry experts list the worst offenders and what kind of damage they do to your mouth:

Candy Canes

These colorful candy sticks are hard to escape during the holiday months. They’re pure sugar, which breaks down in your mouth and causes bacteria to grow. This wreaks havoc on teeth and contributes to cavities. Worse yet, sucking on them keeps a steady supply of sugar in your mouth for an extended period, which is especially damaging.

Chewing on them isn’t much better since little bits can get lodged between teeth and have a similar effect in hard-to-clean areas of your mouth. Too many holiday candy canes is one of the best ways to end up at the dentist office with cavities.

Eggnog

Since eggnog is a sugary drink, it’s terrible for a healthy smile. Though not as damaging as candy canes, any amount of sugar you ingest, whether in a drink, hard candy, or even pastry, will cause your teeth to decay over time.

Milk Chocolate

Milk chocolate is loaded with sugar, so try replacing it with a low-sugar dark chocolate. It may be less sweet, but it’s loaded with antioxidants and contains calcium, which helps offset at least a tiny bit of that potential sugar damage.

Chocolate also dissolves quickly, making it better for your mouth than candy canes. But remember, any amount of sugar is going to contribute to cavities; you should keep it to a minimum, even when it comes to low-sugar treats.

Even with the best oral hygiene, everyone needs to go to the dentist office for regular cleanings and the occasional treatment, whether for a simple cleaning, a cosmetic teeth whitening, or oral surgery. When that time comes, Cincinnati residents trust the family dentistry experts at Lowitz & Meier. Call them at (513) 521-8900 or visit them online to find out how their gentle, professional care earned them the 2013 Super Service Award from Angie’s List.