{"id":92,"date":"2021-12-07T16:35:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-07T16:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.diamondhilldental.com\/blog\/?p=92"},"modified":"2022-01-07T16:35:58","modified_gmt":"2022-01-07T16:35:58","slug":"enjoy-holiday-foods-without-ruining-oral-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.diamondhilldental.com\/blog\/2021\/12\/07\/enjoy-holiday-foods-without-ruining-oral-health\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Ways to Enjoy the Holidays Without Ruining Your Teeth"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The holiday season is finally here! No matter which winter holidays you celebrate, most of them have one thing in common \u2013 foods that aren\u2019t exactly good for your oral health. If you\u2019re not careful, some of your favorite holiday foods could harm your smile and send you straight to an emergency dentist\u2019s<\/a> office. To avoid ruining your teeth and your holiday experience, keep these five tips in mind!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

1. Go Easy on the Candy Canes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Everyone knows that sugar leads to cavities, and candy canes are pretty much pure sugar. Sucking on them gives harmful bacteria ample opportunity to cause cavities, and biting on them could break a tooth. You don\u2019t have to completely cut this seasonal treat out of your life; after all, that\u2019s almost impossible at this time of year. Instead, be careful when you bite into a candy cane. Also, make sure to clean your teeth after eating one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Drink Water When You Can<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Many of the most popular beverages served at holiday parties \u2013 eggnog, wine, and soda \u2013 are terrible for your teeth. These drinks are high in sugar and acids that increase your risk of cavities and gum disease. Instead, stay hydrated with water whenever possible. It\u2019ll rinse lingering debris from foods and beverages off of your teeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Fill Up Your Plate Wisely<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Holiday foods are often far from nutritious, but not all of them are bad for you. Instead of loading up on candies and cookies, fill your plate with veggies like carrots and broccoli. They naturally clean your teeth as you eat them, plus they contain vital nutrients that improve your overall health. Turkey is another seasonal staple that comes with oral health benefits \u2013 it\u2019s rich in protein and phosphorous, both of which strengthen your tooth enamel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Don\u2019t Use Your Teeth to Open Presents<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As satisfying as it may seem to tear open your gifts with your teeth, remember that teeth weren\u2019t designed to do anything more forceful than bite and chew food. Using your teeth as tools could all too easily result in breakage that sours your holiday experience as a whole. Take the time to open your presents with your hands; it will make the reveal that much sweeter!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Remember to Pack a Dental Kit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Among all of the sweet treats you\u2019ll be consuming, the last thing you need is to go without cleaning your teeth. If you\u2019re traveling this holiday season, even for a single night, don\u2019t forget to bring your oral hygiene products. You can find travel-sized toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash, and dental floss at most grocery stores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t let a painful dental problem ruin the time you\u2019re supposed to be enjoying with loved ones. By following these tips, your smile can stay in great shape throughout the holiday season and into the new year!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Authors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Saba Abernethy<\/a> and Dr. Ana Seith<\/a> provide compassionate, conservative care to patients of all ages at Diamond Hill Dental in Cumberland, RI. Although they offer same-day emergency dental appointments, they\u2019d prefer to help you avoid such problems in the first place. If you or a loved one needs a routine dental visit, you can reach out to the team<\/a> by calling 401-333-2700.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The holiday season is finally here! No matter which winter holidays you celebrate, most of them have one thing in common \u2013 foods that aren\u2019t exactly good for your oral health. If you\u2019re not careful, some of your favorite holiday foods could harm your smile and send you straight to an emergency dentist\u2019s office. To […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondhilldental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondhilldental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondhilldental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondhilldental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondhilldental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=92"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondhilldental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":94,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondhilldental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92\/revisions\/94"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondhilldental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=92"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondhilldental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=92"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondhilldental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=92"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}