‘Tis the season for cocktail parties, gourmet gift baskets galore, decorating cookies and, of course, toasting the new year. When faced with a delicious barrage of food and drink at every turn, it’s understandable that you might forget to pay attention to your oral health. It may be the most wonderful time of the year, but what happens during the holidays can snowball into big problems faster than Frosty melts away if you don’t take care of your teeth and gums.
Tidings of Comfort Food and Joy
If holiday song lyrics are any indication, the festive American diet leaves a lot of room for improvement in the winter months – popcorn, candy canes, wassail, homemade pumpkin pie, figgy pudding and potato latkes are just a few of the potential culprits. Many of our favorite holiday foods remain on the teeth, leading to cavities if you don’t manage the situation well.
“Think about the foods that stay in the mouth for a while – things like caramel, dried fruit or sticky things. The longer something is in the mouth, the greater the capacity for causing a cavity or dental issue,” explained pediatric dental specialist Randy Pagenkopf, DMD.
Time is not the only factor – the acidity levels in your mouth also can impact your dental health. While salivation, dry mouth and mouth-breathing can make a significant difference in acidity levels, so do the food and drinks you ingest.
As for your holiday wassail, Dr. Pagenkopf suggests not to skip the merriment simply for the sake of tooth health if you like to partake, but, because alcohol has a drying effect, limit your intake and balance it out with water.
The joy that food, drink and merriment can bring us is important to our well-being, and moderation is key. Enjoy small amounts of your favorites, and graze smarter. “If you’re going to eat something more acidic like crackers or pretzels, balance it out with some cheese. Cheese is basic and helps balance out the pH levels in your mouth,” Dr. Pagenkopf suggested.
He also recommended leaning toward spinach for added calcium – or dairy products, nuts, celery, cucumbers, bell peppers and apples for their basic or low-acidic properties that help balance acidity. The fiber in the fruits and vegetables also aids in “brushing” some food away.
To give your mouth time to remineralize, Dr. Pagenkopf recommended waiting to brush until 30 minutes after eating.
All I Want for Christmas is You Dental Hygiene Products
It’s unlikely that many people have dental hygiene products near the top of their Christmas lists, but they can be useful presents and stocking stuffers. For a bigger gift, a water flosser or electric toothbrush can be fun for even the least enthusiastic brusher. With options like red and green lights to indicate pressure for adults, or kid-oriented brushes that sync with apps and games, taking care of teeth just became less of a chore.
For stocking stuffers, nuts, sugar-free gum and even chocolate make great additions that can stimulate saliva and counterbalance acids in the mouth. Holiday-themed or flavored flossers are a festive option, and even disclosing tablets – yes, those chewable tablets from the days of yore that dye your teeth – can be fun to make a game out of discovering where all that plaque is hiding.
Have Yourself a Merry Little Holiday Season
Embrace the joy that comes with all the special parts of this most wonderful time of the year – the food, the drink, the gatherings and the gift baskets. Just do it in moderation and remember to brush and floss those retentive foods away in a timely manner. Spread cheer by sharing gifts with others – and consider giving the gift of good dental hygiene – the gift that keeps on giving throughout the year.
By Anne Toole
