With all the fun at festivities during the holidays we tend to forget how hard those festive moments are on our teeth. Most of our favorite holiday foods are especially bad for our oral health. Dr. Lunan shares some tips on how to safely enjoy them and still be kind to our teeth. 

• Nothing reminds us of Christmas like a good old fashioned candy cane. The problem with these treats is the amount of time we keep them in our mouths as they linger and dissolve away. They are pure sugar which is one of the leading causes of tooth decay. Not to mention if we crunch them up quickly we are likely to chip or crack a tooth which can lead to costly dental restorations. If you consume them quickly and carefully you can avoid any negative oral impact. 

• We all have memories of baking holiday cookies. It’s quite tempting to overindulge when we have all kinds of delicious baked goods around us. Cookies are full of sugar and can do significant damage to our teeth. Don’t worry, Dr. Lunan won’t even suggest skipping the cookies, just try to enjoy them in moderation as eating too many will only accelerate tooth decay.

• Holiday beverages such as the typical egg nog, apple cider and hot cocoa offer up more than holiday cheer. They are full of sugar or fat which is no good for your breath or your teeth. This sugar clings to the teeth working on breaking down our tooth enamel. If you add liquor to them it may induce dry mouth later into the evening. Without enough saliva to rinse our mouths, they become vulnerable to bacteria that cause bad breath and tooth decay. Stick to one small serving of your favorite beverage and wash away some of the sugar with a refreshing glass of water. 

• Chewy and sticky treats like caramel or caramel popcorn are particularly damaging because not only are they high in sugar but they stay in our mouths for a long time stuck to our teeth and are more difficult to break down. Try avoiding these treats or try brushing and flossing soon afterwards. 

• Healthy alternatives to the sweets are fresh fruits, low fat yogurt or cottage cheese, unbuttered popcorn or baked tortilla chips. Raw veggies like carrots and celery are good options too. 

The good news is that we can still enjoy our favorite holiday treats if we take care of our teeth. Chewing sugar less gum after eating sweets helps remove sugar from our teeth as well as freshen our breath. It’s best to have sweets during short periods of time like after a meal. When you eat them throughout the day you are extending the amount of time the sugar stays on your teeth.  The best way to make sure your teeth don’t suffer is to brush them consistently.

Brushing twice a day is best. Now is a good time to check those bristles too, if they are bent or worn, it’s time to replace that toothbrush. A worn out toothbrush is not effective at cleaning away sugar. And don’t forget to floss to remove sticky things from in between your teeth too.

Nothing gets you teeth clean like a trip to Dr. Joy Lunan’s dental office.  If you are located in the Middlebury, CT area, call for a professional dental cleaning today.   Happy Holidays from all of us at Dr. Lunan’s office!                             203-598-7920   www.middleburydentist.com