It’s time to dive head-first into the seasonal celebrations, and most of us are focused on the delicious holiday foods that lie ahead! It’s easy to get caught up in the food and fun the season brings, but don’t forget about your teeth! Here are a few tooth-friendly snacks you can enjoy with a good conscience and a few you should avoid, or at least eat sparingly.
Best Holiday Foods
Nuts
Warm, roasted nuts can be one of the best treats for you to snack on this season. They have calcium, magnesium, and iron, all of which are fantastic for your bones and your teeth. Plus, chomping down on them helps to stimulate saliva, which keeps harmful bacteria from forming in your mouth. So, feel free to grab a few handfuls of cinnamon-covered almonds. Your body will thank you!
Meat
When the charcuterie tray lands in your lap, it’s definitely a good idea to take a few slices of prosciutto or turkey. Both prosciutto and turkey have large amounts of phosphorus, magnesium and potassium, which all play a critical role in building strong bones and teeth. Even if they get stuck in your teeth, neither will initiate cavities.
Cheese
Cheese is a great snack any time. It’s antibacterial, has a protein that helps combat plaque, and its pH levels can help make your mouth less acidic. It’s also perfect to eat while drinking wine. It coats your teeth in calcium and makes it more difficult for the tannins, or stain-causing compounds found in red wine, to stick to your teeth.
Worst Holiday Foods
Cranberry Sauce
Fresh cranberries are actually great for your teeth. The vitamins and nutrients in them can help protect your teeth from bacteria that causes plaque. In fact, cranberry juice can help reduce plaque by 95%. But when it comes to cranberry sauce, the copious amount of sugar in this holiday staple ends up feeding cavity-causing bacteria instead of fighting it.
Chocolate
While milk chocolate can “feed your sweet tooth,” it also feeds bacteria in your mouth. Acid from that bacteria eats away at your enamel and causes tooth decay. However, dark chocolate is a good alternative. It has less sugar and contains polyphenol, a natural chemical, that can minimize acid-forming bacteria in your mouth.
Candy Canes
Candy canes are a popular decoration because they add whimsy to many holiday displays. Unfortunately, they can also cause quite a few problems for your pearly whites. Sucking on them gives sugar plenty of time to feed the bacteria on your teeth and form the plaque that will start wearing away at your enamel. Crunching on them can cause pieces of it to get stuck in your teeth or even cause chips or cracks.
Avoiding cavity-causing snacks and side dishes is not always a realistic plan. But minimizing how much of them you eat and drinking lots of water soon after is definitely a good idea. Making sure you brush twice and floss once a day will also help keep your oral health on track this season.
About the Author
The team of dentists at Cambria Smiles all pursue continued training and education to provide their patients with high-quality dental care. Whether you need a routine cleaning after the holidays or a more in-depth treatment, Drs. Ramandeep Badhan, Andrew Van Sicklen, and Frank Fratto put patients first and are committed to helping you achieve the smile you deserve. For more information, visit the website or contact them at (805) 927-4811.