What are you looking forward to this holiday season? Many of us are excitedly awaiting seeing family, honoring traditions, and eating lots of delicious foods! However, as you pick out what tasty treats to put on your plate this year, it’s important to make good choices to prevent oral health issues like cavities in Dallas. Thankfully, knowing which foods can cause your teeth the most trouble will go a tremendously long way in keeping your smile healthy and pain-free this holiday season!
1.) Stuffing
With so many sugary sweets around this time of year, it can be easy to forget that carb-heavy foods are just important to look out for. Carbohydrates fuel bacteria in your mouth just as quickly as sugar, making stuffing an overlooked cavity-causing food during the holidays. Plus, many varieties have nuts and grains that can potentially weaken your enamel. If you can, limit how much stuffing ends up on your plate!
2.) Dried Fruit
Dried fruit is often used as an appetizer or an ingredient inside dishes this time of year. While these tasty and nutritious additions may seem “healthy,” they may be more troublesome than you anticipate. Because they’re dehydrated, they have a higher sugar concentration. They’re also very sticky, which means they can easily get stuck in difficult-to-clean areas of your mouth and cause cavities! Thorough brushing and flossing every day will help remove these sticky, sugary particles.
3.) Eggnog
Another holiday classic is eggnog. Some people love it, and some people hate it. If you’re someone who enjoys this seasonal drink, just keep in mind that it’s likely brimming with sugar. Avoiding eggnog all season long may seem like a challenge if you’re fond of this drink, so instead, drink plenty of water alongside your eggnog to wash away lingering sugars on your teeth.
4.) Alcohol
Whether you’re attending the annual office party or having dinner with your family, you may be interesting in partaking in alcoholic beverages. From hot buttered rum to winterberry sangria, there are countless traditional alcoholic drinks that are popular this time of year. Unfortunately, alcohol dramatically increases your risk of stained teeth and cavities alike, so it’s best to consume in moderation.
5.) Pecan Pie
Pecan pie is a classic holiday favorite, but it could send you to your emergency dentist with a chipped tooth if you’re not careful. Not only is pecan pie sticky and sugary, but the hard, crunchy pecans pose a threat to your enamel. If you’re looking for a safer alternative, consider soft, nutritious pumpkin or apple pie!
Don’t let cavities interrupt your holiday celebrations! Make sure you limit or avoid these five foods to keep your smile holly and jolly during your seasonal festivities.
About the Practice
At Midtown Family Dentistry of Dallas, we are committed to helping smiles of all ages achieve optimal oral health and smiles they can be proud of. Our talented team is bilingual and happy to treat children and adults alike, and we offer a wide variety of services to help keep your smile healthy throughout the holidays and beyond. We know the holiday season can be a busy time of year, so we’re pleased to offer evening and weekend appointments with little to no wait time. To learn more, we can be contacted online or at (469) 290-0609.