Naughty & nice list of holiday food for your teeth

There are so many delicious types of food that are associated with the holidays and although some people will consider the health benefits of holiday food in terms of being high in fat, not too many people think about how the food they are eating will affect their teeth. Even if you have a really strong oral hygiene routine of brushing your teeth and flossing daily, there are still some foods that you should avoid. But not to worry! There are also delicious treats that are good for your teeth.

Let’s start off with the naughty list of holiday foods:

• Egg nog: Egg nog has a very high sugar content, which means it is not a good choice for your teeth. If you need to give yourself a little fix, you should try to make it yourself and do not add in any extra sugar or alcohol

• Candy canes: Candy canes are a symbol of the holidays, but any type of candy that you are sucking on for a long period of time is bad for your teeth, since it increases your risk for developing cavities. Even if you do not suck on them but choose to bite them and crunch on it, little pieces can get lodged in your teeth and some people have even suffered a tooth fracture because of a candy cane

• Chocolate: Milk chocolate has a very high sugar content and the digestion of this sugar in your mouth produces an acid that can dissolve the enamel on your teeth and cause cavities. There is some good news though with chocolate! Dark chocolate is not bad for your teeth and it is okay to have dark chocolate around the holidays

• Carbonated beverages: Many people think they can have carbonated beverages if they choose to have a diet or sugar-free version. Any type of carbonated beverage contains acid that dissolves the enamel on your teeth, which can cause cavities, tooth sensitivity and it can also discolor your teeth

Now for the good news. There are holiday foods that are also on the nice list:

• Nuts: There are so many health benefits associated with nuts, and in terms of your teeth, the high amount of magnesium, calcium and iron all help to keep your teeth strong. Nuts also stimulate saliva in your mouth, which keeps bacteria from forming

• Turkey: This delicious holiday classic contains phosphorus, which works with calcium in order to make your teeth strong. Turkey is also non-fermentable, which means it will not stimulate anything in your mouth that could cause cavities

• Cheese: Cheese platters are usually a holiday staple, and since it is antibacterial and has low pH levels, it makes your mouth less acidic.

• Veggies: Raw celery and carrots have many health benefits with one of them being that they help to remove plaque and they also contain a lot of nutrients and vitamins

This is not to say that you can never have anything on the naughty list and that you should have a lot of things from the nice list. All foods should be eaten in moderation. Make sure that you keep up with your daily oral hygiene routine, especially during the holidays, since this is a time that people generally are eating more sugar and you want to make sure that your mouth is protected.