Food is a significant part of many holiday celebrations, and candy canes are a widespread tradition. Your family dentist understands that you probably eat more sugar than usual during this season, but be careful how you do it. Here are some tips for consuming hard candies to help you prevent dental emergencies.

Do:

Brush your teeth afterward.

Bacteria feed on sugar and secrete acid, so the more sugar they're exposed to, the more they can damage your teeth. Letting the sugar sit on your teeth gives the bacteria more time to eat it. Clean your teeth soon after eating sweet treats, or at the very least, rinse your mouth with water to remove most of the sugar.

Know when to see a dentist.

If your teeth chip or crack while eating candy canes, visit a dentist immediately, even if it's a holiday. Some breaks can get worse without treatment, and some can expose the tooth to infection. If you aren't sure whether you damaged a tooth, look out for pain that gets worse when you bite down, sudden sensitivity to hot and cold, and swelling in the area.

Don't:

Bite down on candy canes.

Crunching hard candy may be satisfying, but many types are hard enough that you risk cracking your dental enamel. This is especially true if you've had past dental problems that weakened your teeth, or if your dentist has told you that you have weak enamel. Suck on candy canes slowly, or choose a softer sweet like a cookie.

Open the wrapper with your teeth.

Pulling on a tough wrapper puts enormous pressure on your teeth and tugs them in a direction they weren't designed to withstand. It also forces your teeth to clench together too hard. You can break a tooth this way, loosen it in the socket, or get plastic wedged between your teeth. Use your hands or a pair of scissors to open candy cane wrappers and any other packaging you encounter this holiday season.

If you need to see a dentist before this holiday season, or if you have a dental emergency during the festivities, call Jim S. Caudill, DMD, PSC. Based in Hazard, KY, Dr. Caudill has served Perry County since 1975. He offers both general and pediatric dental care. To learn more about the practice, visit the website or call (606) 436-3432.