Candy, Drinks, and Yummy Treats. No surprises here, but these treats aren’t just bad for your health, they can wreak havoc on your teeth too! While we suggest staying away from the following, if you do want to indulge, we’ve included a few tips and alternatives.
1. Sweets, sweets and more sweets. Sugary treats abound over the holidays. Of course, too much sugar is never good for anyone. When it comes to teeth, sugar is a major enemy. Luckily, there are many alternatives to satisfy a sweet tooth including fruits, dark chocolate, and sugar-free gum.
2. Sticky Treats. Sticky foods include sugary candy like gummy bears and taffy, but dried fruits can be just as bad. Sticky treats are not only hard on the jaw, pieces easily attach to the surface of your teeth creating the perfect environment for cavities.
In addition, sticky foods can damage braces, caps, and cause problems for denture wearers.
Can’t help yourself? Follow up with a piece of sugarless gum, which can gently pry away at the stuck on food.
3. Hard Items/Hard Candy. Again not only are you dealing with plenty of sugar, hard candies such as candy canes and peppermints can crack your teeth. Sucking on hard candy is an alternative, but leads to saliva full of sugar. If you really can’t skip hard candies, suck on a sugar-free option. Other hard items include ice cubes (for those that like to crack ice cubes with their teeth) and nuts, which actually fall on the good for you list, as long as you don’t use your teeth to crack the shells open. Also avoid nuts if you have braces, dentures or damaged teeth.
4. Soda. Unfortunately, soda contains sugar and acid, both of which are very damaging to teeth. If you drink soda, using a straw may help. If you drink soda, be sure to follow up with a glass of water and brush your teeth soon after.
5. Wine/Alcohol. Like soda, alcoholic beverages contain both sugar and acid. Some alcohol, red wine, for example, can stain your teeth. If you do drink wine or other alcoholic beverage, snack on a piece of cheese after. Cheese can help neutralize that acid.
6. Dried Fruit. While dried fruit may seem like a great alternative to sugary treats, it can be quite problematic for your teeth, particularly if the fruit is coated in sugar. Dried fruit is also quite chewy and sticky. Remnants can hide between teeth and adhere to surface areas creating the perfect opportunity for cavities. A better choice is to stick with fresh fruit.
Dr. Sedki and his staff at Sedki Dentistry want you to enjoy the holidays with a healthy mouth and smile. Regular dental checkups and teeth cleanings are highly recommended and routine for good dental health. Call Sedki Dentistry in Commerce Twp today and schedule a checkup!