Happy Holidays! Our team at Carolina Bright Smiles wants to make sure we do our part it giving you the best advice for a healthy smile as you dodge all the dental dangers of Christmas.
Today, we’re giving you the naughty and nice list when it comes to the food and drinks you’ll likely find at your next holiday party.
Avoid Putting Your Smile On The Naughty List!
The Cake We Love To Hate
Fruitcake seems to be one of those desserts that you either love or you hate. If you happen to love it, a word of caution! It’s really dense, packed with sugar, and also contains candied fruit that can stick to hard-to-reach areas in your mouth. So beware if fruitcake decks your holiday spread.
Exercise Caution With Candy Canes
You don’t have to refrain from every sugary treat during Christmas, but some candies are worse for your teeth than others. Candy canes are one of them.
Because they’re hard, biting down on them can wear down your teeth and even put you at risk for damaging your enamel. You don’t want to deal with a dental emergency because of these striped sticks of sugar!
Eggnog Isn’t The Kind Of Egg You Need
Although it’s a creamy, delicious holiday drink, eggnog contains a lot of sugar that your teeth don’t need. Consuming too much of this beverage this time of year can increase your chances for developing tooth decay and the cavities that can follow.
Keep Your Smile On The Nice List!
Here are some great, nutrient-dense options you can enjoy guilt-free this year!
Hear The Angels Sing About Deviled Eggs!
Everyone loves deviled eggs, so it’s nice that they’re an American staple during nearly every other holiday of the year.
Eggs are an excellent source of vitamin D and protein, both of which are necessary to keep your mouth healthy. So take in the choir of angels and add these devilish delights to your holiday plate!
Gobble, Gobble!
Turkey isn’t just for Thanksgiving, and that’s great news for your smile!
It’s full of the protein your teeth need to remain strong and healthy. It also contains bone-building phosphorus, which is an added bonus.
The only threat to your oral health is that when there’s turkey on the dinner table this time of year, that usually means cranberry sauce isn’t too far away. As long as you’re familiar with the added ingredients in your family’s cranberry sauce, you can easily avoid unnecessary sugars that it might have.
Veg Out!
Snacking on celery, carrots, green peppers, and cauliflower will help you keep your weight under control throughout the holidays and provide your teeth and gums with essential vitamins and nutrients they need for strength and stability. The crunching will also help you create more saliva to coat and protect your teeth’s enamel from harmful acids.
Say Cheese!
Just like celery and apples, hard cheeses provide the kind of scrubbing power as you eat it to help keep your teeth clean of food particles and sugars. Cheese is also packed with calcium for strong teeth and bones.
Since it also raises your body’s pH level, cheese can also help you absorb the calcium for effectively. So make sure you create a lovely cheese spread to place next to your vegetable tray.
Go Nuts!
Nuts are so good for you thanks to their high protein and low carbohydrate content. By crunching on nuts, you’re giving your teeth what they need to stay strong, and you’re also being kind to your waistline amidst all the high-calorie sugary options the holidays usually offer.
Schedule A Dental Cleaning & Exam!
A healthy body requires a healthy mouth. That’s why at Carolina Bright Smiles, we offer deep cleanings and thorough exams using advanced technology and diagnostics. It’s part of our commitment to your beautiful, healthy smile.
With all the fun of the holidays, it’s important to practice caution and moderation as you indulge in the delicious delights of the season. If you remain vigilant about nutrition and oral hygiene, you have a better chance of welcoming the new year in good dental health.
Along with healthy teeth and gums comes the benefit of being a good candidate for cosmetic dentistry! Our team in Hillsborough, NC wants to help you have the smile you want in 2018 and beyond, and our various cosmetic options can help you achieve it!
Call us today at 919-644-7400 or fill out our online form to schedule your first dental checkup of the new year!