For most Americans, the holiday season is a time for friends and family. It’s also a time for sharing delicious holiday meals and sweets. We all know how easy it is to overdo it during the holidays, but did you know too much of a good thing doesn’t just apply to your waist line? It also applies to your gum line.
The stickier the food the less likely it will be washed away by saliva. Holiday favorites such as fruit cakes, caramels and peanut brittle can stick to teeth and cause acid to be produced by the bacteria in your mouth. This acid eats away at your tooth enamel and can cause cavities and other oral health problems. Here are some great holiday snacking tips to help keep your sweet tooth intact:
- If you must have sweets, eat them with a meal. Saliva production increases during meals which can help neutralize the acid being produced and rinse food particles from the mouth.
- Stay away from between-meal snacks. If you are craving a snack, chew on gum that contains xylitol afterward.
- Drink more water. Consuming optimally fluoridated water can help prevent tooth decay and rinse away food particles.
- Brush your teeth twice daily and floss at least one a day.
- Visit your dentist regularly.
