Holiday Foods to Watch Out For

Now that the holiday season is upon us that means it’s time for food, family, food, presents, holiday parties, and food.  There’s a lot of food around is what we’re saying.  Tons of different varieties, holiday treats you don’t see the rest of the year, family recipes and specialties, and a whole lot of ways to incorporate sugar just make everything so tempting.  You should be wary however, for as delicious as all of these dishes can be they can be hard on your teeth, and some are just best avoided.

The Sticky

Food items that get into the crevices and stay there are some of the worst ones for your teeth since they can turn into sugars that feed damaging bacteria.  Popcorn is a major offender during this season as kernels can get stuck between teeth and under the gum line which can cause problems.  Other sticky foods like stuffing and dried fruit are problematic for the same reason – the longer they stick in your teeth the more damage they can do.

The Sweet

There are plenty of sweets to go around during the holidays.  Egg nog is full of sugar and fat and can layer itself on to your teeth.  Candy, especially candy canes are almost pure sugar so they’re dangerous as are most other forms of seasonal snacks like sugar cookies, yule logs, and the various cakes and pies that get adorned with the symbols of holiday cheer.  It’s a sugar overload and your teeth are best served by avoiding them altogether.

Preventing Damage

Let’s be honest, you’re not going to avoid all of them.  People serve holiday foods because they’re yummy and simply all part of the celebrations of the Season, you’re going to want to indulge your taste buds.  That’s perfectly fine but if you know what the worst foods are you can know how to combat any issues that may arise.  Bring a toothbrush and floss with you to holiday dinners and you’ll be able to get any sticky stuff off.  Even drinking water between snack sessions will help clear your mouth of sugary debris.  Take the right precautions and you can enjoy the deliciousness the season can offer without ending up with dental problems.

Enjoy your holiday season but make sure to be smart about what you eat and how you clean your teeth.  If you’re looking to get your teeth cleaned to make your pearly whites really dazzle this holiday season or want to get something else checked, we provide full service family dentistry.  Contact Pickering Square Dental today.

Tooth-friendly Treats on Halloween

As October’s end approaches the days are getting shorter, the leaves are starting to fall, and it’s just about time for little ghosts and goblins to start making their way from door-to-door in search of tricks or treats.  Halloween is one of the best kid holidays of the year – dressing up, going out at night, and getting free candy – what’s not to like?  However, as with many things kids enjoy a candy-based holiday like Halloween doesn’t always have the best impact on dental health.  It’s our responsibility to make sure that whatever candy they do have doesn’t result in cavities.

Things to Give Out

Sugar-free candy is your best bet for helping out visiting spectres and superheroes with keeping their dental hygiene in good standing.  Sugarless gum is a great choice as well as the chewing action can help fight bacteria through increased saliva production.  Let’s be honest though, we remember what it felt like when we got to the house that gave out raisins for Halloween.  We did not care for it.  You may not want to be the neighbour that gives out sugar-free gum.  So if you’re looking for something the kids will love that will cause the least issues with their teeth you should go with something chocolate.  The chocolate melts quickly in comparison to harder candies and therefore does less harm.  Avoid chocolates with sticky centres and you’ll make both the kids and their dentists happy.

Dealing with What Your Kids Bring Home

The other side of the Halloween coin is the haul your kids bring in from their evening adventure.  This can vary in size and quality greatly depending on your neighbours and your child’s work ethic.  Of course eating all that candy right away can create issues for their teeth and for their tummy so it’s best to take action to make sure that doesn’t happen.  The first step, favoured by parents for years, is to divide the candy into increments to be enjoyed throughout the month.  Once this is done don’t let them snack on it throughout the day as that can had adverse effects on their dental health – set it up as a dessert after a bigger meal. 

Additionally you can attempt to get them to trade some candy, perhaps for a little bit of change for their piggy bank or for something else they might want.  Use your imagination to get a little more candy out of their hands to protect them in the long run.  That said, don’t go eating all that candy yourself.  What goes for kids’ teeth goes for yours too!

If you’re looking to get your teeth checked out after too much sugar that may or may not have been related to Halloween, the team here at Pickering Square Dental is ready to help.  Contact us today.