Have a Holiday Sweet Tooth?
For the next month, we will all be enjoying plenty of holiday treats. Between candy canes passed out left and right, Grandma’s cookies, gingerbreadhouses and eggnog, it is hard to draw the line between what we can indulge in and what should be enjoyed in moderation. We are providing you here with a list of the worst and best holiday sweets for your teeth.
Worst
Candy Canes
These seemingly harmless candies have a natural sugar in them that takes a long time for us to ingest. This sugar will stay in your mouth for quite some time while it dissolves, and can travel into the tooth, causing plaque and bacteria to build up. This can lead to tooth decay and cavities.
Sugar Cookies
Sugar cookies are a staple in the holiday cookie exchange, but that doesn’t mean they don’t affect your teeth. As the name suggests, this treat contains more sugar than other cookies, and excess sugar means increased risk of cavities and other oral issues.
Gumdrops
These should be avoided if possible. Since they are sticky, gumdrops stay on the teeth for an extended amount of time. If you don’t floss often, the sugars between your teeth will build up and travel around the mouth, wreaking havoc on (and in) teeth and gums.
Best
Gingerbread Cookies
Since ginger and gingerbread have less sugar, these cookies are a better choice for your oral health. These cookies are also high in fiber and lower in fat. Plus, they taste great!
Sugar-free Gum
You may not necessary be chewing gum for dessert, but sugar-free gum is a perfect stocking stuffer for just about anybody. You can also chew this gum between meals to stimulate saliva flow, which will balance out acid levels in the mouth and decrease the risk of decay.
Peppermint Water
Similar to items on the “worst” list, alcohol has a lot of sugar and can break down tooth enamel. Instead of drinking alcohol, try peppermint water. You can easily make your own by adding peppermint juice, peppermint leaves or peppermint spray to a glass of ice water. This eliminates the destructive nature of sugar, and refreshes your mouth.
Schedule your appointment with Art of Modern Dentistry to clean your teeth of sugars left behind from holiday sweets!
Courtesy of Examiner.com
Worst
Candy Canes
These seemingly harmless candies have a natural sugar in them that takes a long time for us to ingest. This sugar will stay in your mouth for quite some time while it dissolves, and can travel into the tooth, causing plaque and bacteria to build up. This can lead to tooth decay and cavities.
Sugar Cookies
Sugar cookies are a staple in the holiday cookie exchange, but that doesn’t mean they don’t affect your teeth. As the name suggests, this treat contains more sugar than other cookies, and excess sugar means increased risk of cavities and other oral issues.
Gumdrops
These should be avoided if possible. Since they are sticky, gumdrops stay on the teeth for an extended amount of time. If you don’t floss often, the sugars between your teeth will build up and travel around the mouth, wreaking havoc on (and in) teeth and gums.
Best
Gingerbread Cookies
Since ginger and gingerbread have less sugar, these cookies are a better choice for your oral health. These cookies are also high in fiber and lower in fat. Plus, they taste great!
Sugar-free Gum
You may not necessary be chewing gum for dessert, but sugar-free gum is a perfect stocking stuffer for just about anybody. You can also chew this gum between meals to stimulate saliva flow, which will balance out acid levels in the mouth and decrease the risk of decay.
Peppermint Water
Similar to items on the “worst” list, alcohol has a lot of sugar and can break down tooth enamel. Instead of drinking alcohol, try peppermint water. You can easily make your own by adding peppermint juice, peppermint leaves or peppermint spray to a glass of ice water. This eliminates the destructive nature of sugar, and refreshes your mouth.
Schedule your appointment with Art of Modern Dentistry to clean your teeth of sugars left behind from holiday sweets!
Courtesy of Examiner.com