Healthy Teeth for a Happy Holiday

‘Tis the Season to Be Jolly, but Neglecting Your Teeth Is Folly

Happy Holidays from everyone here at the Parkway Dental Center! There is no arguing that this magical time of year should be dedicated to spending time with your family and friends—and, of course, indulging in food and drinks. Eating healthy during the holidays may not be at the top of everyone’s priority list. Still, through mindful and strategic eating, you can learn how to prevent cavities and keep your teeth beautiful for the New Year ahead.

Sugar Attacks: All in One

We all know that too much sugar is bad for us, but Holidays without a sweet treat or two are no fun at all. Did you know that reducing how often you consume sugar in a given day could minimize the potential harm to your precious enamel?

It’s thought that sugar frequency—meaning how many times in a day you consume sugary foods —can have a bigger impact on developing tooth decay than the total volume of sugar ingested overall.

Why? And why is sugar bad for our teeth? Whenever we eat something sugary, bacteria in our mouths feed on that sugar and produce acid as a waste product. This attacks our teeth enamel which can lead to tooth decay and cavities. We refer to this as a “sugar attack”, which can last up to 30 minutes. To allow time for saliva to wash away the acids and replenish enamel in between, we advise you to have no more than 3-4 sugar attacks a day.

What does this mean in practical terms? For healthy teeth, stick to 3-4 meals a day, avoid snacking in between, and ensure that you have any desserts, sweet treats, and sugary drinks with your meals (within a 30-minute window). So if you have your dessert within half an hour of finishing your meal, it is part of the same sugar attack. After 30 minutes, it becomes an additional sugar attack.

Read more about how sugar and nutrition can impact your oral health here.

Festive Fluoride

Above all else, it’s vital to maintain a good oral hygiene regime during the festive period. Brush twice a day for two minutes with fluoride toothpaste, and clean interdentally every night to combat those pesky bacteria and ensure your pearly whites stay as white as the snow outside.

We’re not here to steal away your holiday indulgence, but by being smart, eating strategically, and following our advice, you can have fun and still keep your teeth healthy. Check out, our blog on healthy Christmas treats that you can make at home. From everyone at Dentist Minneapolis Parkway Dental Center, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!