So what are the top holiday foods to give you cavities? Here are the top five foods of the season that can ruin your smile!

Candy Canes
Candy canes have basically one ingredient: sugar. We all know sugar is detrimental for your smile, but on top of that, candy canes typically require that you keep them in your mouth for a period of time in order to eat them, much like a lollipop. The more time your mouth is exposed to sugar, the greater the damage can be—this includes enamel erosion and cavities!

Candy canes are also crunchy and crunching down on this hard candy could chip or even fracture your teeth. This will not only lead to tooth damage on the outside, but could set you up for cavities as bacteria now have an alternate entry into your tooth!

Eggnog
Eggnog typically contains two ingredients that can wreak havoc on your teeth: sugar and alcohol! Sugar mixes with the natural bacteria of your mouth and turns acidic, which attacks your porous enamel and can lead to sensitive teeth and cavities. Alcohol is very corrosive on your teeth and can have a very similar effect, especially if your mouth is exposed to these ingredients for a length of time.

You can still enjoy eggnog, but sipping water afterwards is best—or you can make a healthier version of eggnog with no added sugar and very little alcohol, or eliminate the alcohol totally.

Chocolate
Milk chocolate tends to contain high amounts of sugar and can make your mouth prone to cavities. This is true for chocolate drinks as well such as hot chocolate with sugar and marshmallows. However, the good news is that dark chocolate can actually be good for you and your smile—the higher the cocoa content (think 60% or higher), the better! Get creative with dark chocolate treats that are low in sugar but high in antioxidants.

Caramel Popcorn
There are few candies that cling to teeth like caramel. It easily gets lodged in teeth, and in its hardened form, can even set teeth up for chips and fractures. Combined with popcorn, this sticky treat could give you cavities this holiday season. Enjoy caramel popcorn in moderation and always be sure to get any caramel out from between your teeth with proper brushing and flossing!

Fruitcake
Fruitcake is sweet and sticky, two properties that can causes cavities to form on your pearly whites. The sticky fruit in fruitcake can get caught between teeth and sticks to teeth, negatively affecting enamel and promoting cavity formation. Depending on how sticky your fruitcake is, it could even cause dental crowns to come loose! Enjoy fruitcake carefully this year.

Your holiday season can still have treats in it, but be mindful of how much you’re consuming. By balancing these sweet foods with a healthy diet and proper oral health care techniques, you can have a beautiful smile all holiday season long and impress your dentist at your checkup in the New Year. Happy Holidays!

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Treats That Aren’t So Bad for Your Smile

First of all, remember that you can have something sweet without coating your teeth in refined sugar. Try a frozen fruit snack that is made with actual fruit. This may not be something you can give out at the door, but at least you can have one or two to calm your craving as you see all the candy changing hands.

Next, you may consider salty treats over sweet ones. This is a great time to treat yourself to some pretzels or popcorn instead of the usual holiday fare. It’s still a nice treat, and you’ll still have to floss those popcorn kernels out from between your teeth, but at least there isn’t any sugar.

Finally, get some sugar-free treats like certain brands of gum or lollipops. They may use artificial sweeteners (which also are not great for your teeth), but at least they aren’t loaded with sugar. Plus, gum and hard candies cause a person to salivate. This keeps the mouth from drying out and delays the amount of time it takes for plaque to harden into tartar.

If you absolutely have to have chocolate, dark chocolate is the best for you. It has less sugar than white or milk chocolate, and many enjoy the flavor of dark chocolate more anyway. Just avoid chocolate that has a chewy filling such as caramel. If you have to have a filling in your chocolate, go for a peanut butter cup. That’s probably the least of the evils as far as your teeth are concerned.

Treats to Avoid

Now that you have a list of things to enjoy, here are a couple of things to make sure you avoid. First of all, stay away from sticky treats such as caramel and taffy. Also, avoid large, hard candies like jawbreakers. They should really call them “toothbreakers.” Gummy candies are also high in sugar and stick in the teeth making them a recipe for cavities.

However, as always, enjoy your time with loved ones and snack safely!

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One of the earliest signs that you have a cavity forming is pain. A toothache or pain when you bite down may indicate the presence of a cavity. Tooth sensitivity, if you don’t normally have it, is also a sign, as is sensitivity or pain when you eat or drink something hot, cold or sweet. Dark brown or black spots on your teeth or visible holes in your teeth are indicators of cavities. If you have any of these symptoms or signs you should see a dentist right away.

Cavities are more common in the back teeth than the front teeth, which is why you usually feel the pain caused by cavities before you can actually see them. The back teeth are less smooth than the front teeth, so it’s easier for bacteria to collect in ridges of the back teeth. These teeth are also harder to clean, which allows a greater chance of food particles being left behind.

Because cavities form gradually and are often in the back teeth, you may have a cavity of some size before you notice any symptoms. It is even possible to have a cavity and never experience any symptoms at all; not even pain. Regular dental exams, twice a year, can catch cavities early. Some cavities can be seen by the dentist during an exam, while some can only be seen on X-rays. When a dentist finds simple cavities forming, they can be filled with either metal fillings or composite tooth-colored fillings.

Cavities that have formed to a larger degree may require a crown to restore the tooth. Cavities that are severe can reach the root of the tooth, and may require a root canal to save the tooth.

The post Signs You May Have a Cavity appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

The general rule of thumb is to avoid candy that is hard or chewy. Even though most candy contains a lot of sugar, candy that melts or dissolves in the mouth quickly is less of a threat to dental health. Chewy candies like caramels or gummies stick to the teeth, allowing the sugar to stay in the mouth longer. The longer the sugar is there, the more opportunity bacteria have to breed. Gummy candy is very popular, but unfortunately, it’s one of the worst candies for the teeth.

Hard candy is bad too, no matter how a person enjoys it. Sucking on a hard candy allows sugar to hang around in the mouth for a long time, while chewing hard candy can break or crack the teeth. Pieces of it tend to stick to the teeth as well, giving bacteria a feeding ground.

Chocolate, without nuts, is a reasonably safe choice for the teeth. It’s easy to chew, it melts away in the mouth quickly, and the calcium it contains is actually good for the teeth. It does contain a lot of sugar, so it should be eaten in moderation.

The safest Halloween candy is sugar-free candy or gum, particularly if it contains the artificial sweetener xylitol. Xylitol has been shown to reduce acids that can damage the teeth. Chewing sugar-free gum increases saliva production, which also helps to wash away acids.
Washing away acids can also be accomplished by rinsing with water after eating candy. It’s best to only eat candy in small amounts, and at limited times, like after meals as a dessert or at regular snack times.

Limit the consumption of these harmful candies and make your dentist smile. Your own smile will thank you for it!

Happy Halloween!

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