The holidays are an exciting time of year – especially for those of us who love food! With so many traditional dishes and sides, many of which have seen updates and innovations in recent years, it’s easy to lose track of how much you’ve eaten after a large family dinner. However, it never hurts to be a little extra careful when piling food onto your plate; certain items might cause grief for your smile! Here are a few of the most common holiday dishes that are also often linked with dental issues.
Holiday Foods That Can Harm Your Teeth
It goes against the holiday spirit to cut out some of your favorite foods entirely. However, by knowing which specific dishes pose an increased threat to your smile, you can make adjustments and ensure that you’re satisfying all your holiday cravings without damaging your pearly whites. Here are some dishes you should think twice about:
Pecan Pie
Although it may seem fair to single out one single type of pie (especially when flavors like cherry, pumpkin, apple, and more exist), pecan pie is unfortunately very high in sugar content. Traditionally the dish contains corn syrup, meaning that as you eat it, sticky sugars and bits of pecan are deposited onto your teeth, where they can begin fueling harmful oral bacteria.
Dried Fruit
It’s true that fruit is normally quite healthy and something you should ensure you’re eating regularly – however, dried fruit is significantly higher in sugars, including glucose and fructose. Dried fruit can also stick to the surfaces of your teeth and contribute to issues like tooth decay if you aren’t brushing diligently.
Stuffing
This popular holiday side dish doesn’t stand out as sugary – however, it’s often quite starchy and high in carbs, which can be just as detrimental for your teeth enamel. Plus, these particles can linger on your teeth, further fueling cavity-causing bacteria and expediting the formation of plaque.
Candy Canes
These holiday treats are pretty much pure sugar, and sucking on them bathes your teeth in sugar for copious amounts of time. Not to mention, they’re also rock hard – one accidental bite and you could end up with a painful chip or crack in your tooth!
Eggnog
Though not technically a food, this beverage contains a jaw-dropping amount of sugar; one serving often has around 20 grams, which is almost the daily amount recommended by the American Heart Association!
The holidays are meant to be enjoyed; the last thing you should want is to suffer a dental injury due to your diet! Take a spare second to think about what you’re preparing and eating for yourself and your family and prioritize your dental health if you can!
About the Practice
Our team here at Simply Dental of Lowell has proudly served patients in Lowell and the surrounding area for several years, offering a wide range of preventive, cosmetic, and restorative services, as well as emergency dentistry for those with urgent needs – even during the holiday season! If you have any other questions about the blog or you’d like to get in touch with us to set up an appointment, please visit us online or call us today for additional information or assistance. Telephone: (978) 485-2929.
