‘Tis the season to be jolly and enjoy all of your favorite holiday foods. We know that this time of the year is perfect for enjoying good company and good food. Sometimes we may eat a little too much, but we all know the negative impacts that overeating can have on your body.
However, there are lesser known impacts that holiday goodies can have on your teeth. Some of these eaten in constant excess can even lead to dental implants. Here is our list of the best and worst foods for your teeth this holiday season.
The Good
1. Gingerbread
Although this snack, in general, is not amazing for your teeth, gingerbread has significantly less sugar than other types of holiday cookies and biscuits. If you must indulge in holiday cheer, take comfort in not having to think twice about biting into a gingerbread man this year.
2. Nuts
During this time of the year, almonds, walnuts, cashews, and other nuts are in season and these are popular treats to place in bowls at family gatherings. Not only are nuts tasty, but they are good for your teeth.
Nuts provide a ton of vitamins and nutrients that help to keep your teeth strong. The one thing that we can advise when eating nuts are that they can sometimes cause chips in your teeth. Not to worry though, there are dental implants that can fix that problem.
The Bad that Leads to Dental Implants
1. Candy Canes
Much like Halloween candies, these holiday treats can take a long time to eat. Although they are delicious, many people don’t understand that while you are enjoying this peppermint treat, your teeth are being coated with high levels of sugar.
These sugars combined with your natural mouth acids, increase your risk of cavities and eroding tooth enamel.
2. White Wine
Although red wine stains the mouth after a few enjoyed glasses, it is not the culprit that you may think of when someone mentions wine damaging your teeth. White wine actually has a high acidic content that can easily erode the enamel on your teeth, leading to tooth damage, decay, and dental implants.
If you must enjoy a few glasses of wine this season, opt for red over white. Red wine can actually help prevent tooth decay by washing out the bad bacteria in your mouth.
3. Citrus Fruits
Although fruits like Tangerines and Clementine Oranges are holiday traditional snacks, they are still foods that can harm your teeth. Don’t let the health aspect fool you, these fruits are packed with highly acidic juices that can erode your tooth enamel over time.
Too Late? FastNewSmile Can Help!
If you have spent years at holiday parties enjoying all of the wrong snacks and have damaged your teeth, dental implants may be a great way to prevent further oral health problems. Get in touch with FastNewSmile today. Our professional staff can help guide you through the services that we provide and get you a few steps closer to having a holiday smile to be proud of. Contact our offices for more information.