One of the greatest things about holidays is the delicious treats involved. You’ve got Halloween candy, Easter Cadbury Eggs, Christmas cookies, and more to enjoy around these times. 

However, it’s important to know the effect they can have on your teeth and ensure you are taking precautions to keep that smile beautiful and healthy. This blog will take a look at some holiday treats that may not be the best for your teeth, but can still be enjoyed with proper care. 

Candy Canes

Candy canes are solely made up of sugar and flavored corn syrup, which can heavily cause plaque buildup and tooth decay. The hard texture of candy canes can also make your teeth prone to chipping or cracking if you bite into it. 

Toffee 

Toffee is another hard and sticky candy that can damage your enamel. It can get stuck in between your teeth and cause plaque buildup that way. If you have any dental work done such as braces, crowns, or retainers, this type of candy can damage or pull them off. 

Laffy Taffy

Like toffee, Laffy Taffy is extremely sticky. It also contains a high sugar content, which creates more acid and bacteria to feed off of. 

Chocolate Covered Pretzels

Starchy foods such as pretzels, cookies, or anything highly processed can also eat away at the enamel. These aren’t thought of as much as sugary foods, but they can still cause harm and increase the risk of plaque build up if not taken care of properly. 

Eggnog and Hot Chocolate 

Drinks are a sneaky way to damage your teeth. Even though you may not feel the need to clean in between your teeth after you drink something, drinks can coat al of your teeth and sit on them without you realizing. Highly sugary drinks can easily eat away at your enamel if you let it sit on your teeth for too long. 

Can I Still Eat These Foods and Maintain Good Oral Hygiene? 

If you limit the amount of treats you intake and take proper care of your teeth after, then you can still enjoy them in moderation. Some good practices to implement are:

• Pick and Choose: If you are having a sugary treat, pair it with water. If you want to have a more sugary drink, eat something with less sugar or starch. If you keep a good balance, you will have a better chance at maintaining good oral health.
• Rinse Immediately After: If you have mouthwash accessible to you, rinse with it right after eating. If you don’t have access immediately after, then rinse with water. 
• Brush and Floss: Brush as soon as you can after eating or drinking. If you can’t right away, make sure to brush and floss before bed so that the sugar and bacteria aren’t sitting on your teeth overnight. 
• Visit the Dentist Regularly: Visit your Idaho Falls dentist biannually for a professional cleaning and to address any potential concerns.  

Conclusion

There are many treats we enjoy on the holidays that can harm our teeth and gums. If you are mindful of what you are consuming and are proactive about aftercare, then you can still enjoy these holiday favorites and still have a healthy smile.