The holiday season is here! This is the time of the year when you can find plenty of tasty treats and desserts. Cookies, fudge brownies, cupcakes, pie, and hot chocolate are some of the favorite holiday foods to enjoy.
When you eat or drink foods containing sugar, bacteria in plaque; the soft and sticky film that builds up on your teeth, produce acids that can eat away at the tooth enamel (the shiny surface of your teeth) and overtime form cavities or little holes (ADA).
Now the good news. You can still enjoy the holiday sweets while looking out for your oral health. Follow the tips below to help you stay cavity free this holiday season.
Six (6) tips for a healthy, holiday smile from Mouth Healthy.
- Snack on healthy foods such as yogurt, cheese, vegetable, and whole grains. These foods are great for your oral and overall health.
- Limit between-meal snacks. Bacteria converts the foods we eat into an acid, which increases the risk of cavities.
- Go easy on the hard candies. Not only are they a risk for cavities, but also known to cause broken or chipped teeth.
- Limit sticky foods such as dried fruit. Sticky foods stay on top and in between your teeth longer than other foods.
- Choose water. It has no calories or sugar. Drink soda and other sugary beverages in moderation.
- Watch out for starchy foods such as pastries. They can be trapped between your teeth. Make sure to floss extra good before bedtime.
Keep your teeth clean, remember you oral health routine.
✓ Brush your teeth twice a day. Make sure to brush before bedtime.
✓ Floss at least once a day. Plaque that is not removed by brushing and cleaning between your teeth can eventually turn into a rough substance called tartar. A dentist can only remove this (ADA).
✓ See the dentist twice a year. Your dentist can help prevent oral problems and treat them before they get bigger.
✓ Rinse your mouth with tap water to wash away food particles when you cannot brush. Make sure to brush and floss your teeth as soon as you are able.
Five (5) tips to keep teeth healthy over the holidays. Five tips to help avoid an emergency trip to the dentist’s office this season from Delta Dental.
Orange County Community Resources. Get help with food assistance programs, financial assistance, car seat safety, mental health and more. Resources are available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Korean.
The Orange County Local Oral Health Program team would like to wish you a happy, holiday season.
