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.

Your Teeth and Thanksgiving Dinner

The leaves are changing and jackets are fast becoming a necessity.  Autumn is in full swing and that means the holiday season is about to begin.  First on the list: Thanksgiving.  It’s a holiday filled with family, friends, good times, and a whole lot of food.  It’s all delicious but some of it can cause havoc with the health of your teeth and gums.  Here are a few tips to keep in mind when enjoying yourself on Thanksgiving Day.

Stay Away from the Sticky Stuff

While sugary treats in general should be avoided some are worse than others.  If you absolutely need to indulge your sweet tooth do what you can to stay away from stickier treats like jam cookies or pecan pie.  The stickiness keeps the sugar on your teeth longer which can have a larger impact than less sticky sweets.  Try and rinse your mouth with water as soon as possible when you’re not able to brush and floss immediately after enjoying all those special treats!!!

Don’t Graze

If your family is anything like most there’s usually a platter or two of snacks available long before dinner is served.  Snacking here and there creates more harmful bacteria in your mouth and allows that bacteria to stay hard at work all day.  Grab something resembling a lunch and hold out until dinner to give yourself time for your teeth time to protect themselves.  Besides, you’ll enjoy your dinner more if you have room for it.

Keep Water Handy

Acidic drinks like wine or soft drinks are tempting especially when you’re enjoying yourself.  Opt for water if you can as it can help wash your mouth of any leftover food particles or sugars.  If you can’t, or don’t want to avoid harmful drinks, then you should keep water nearby anyway to drink along with them.

Bring a Brush

Just because it’s Thanksgiving doesn’t mean you give up your normal healthy dental routine.  Bring a brush so you can get some of that turkey lodged in there out after dinner is over.  And don’t forget to floss either!

Thanksgiving can be a great time and if you take the right precautions your teeth will be no worse for it.  Then you’ll have one more thing to give thanks for.  If you’ve had too much sticky sugars on your teeth and need to see a dentist, or have any other issues that need attending, contact us at Pickering Square Dental and we’ll be happy to help.