The holidays are everyone’s favorite time of year—it’s a time when you can relax and unwind from a stressful year of work. One of the best things about this season is the food. Unfortunately, many of the most common holiday staples can do serious damage to your teeth, with some even causing dental emergencies. Here are a few common holiday treats that warrant a little bit of caution.
Toffee
Toffee, peanut brittle, and peppermint bark are all common stocking stuffers, and each of them can do serious damage to your teeth if you aren’t careful. Toffee is sticky enough to pull out fillings and hard enough to cause cracks or chips. They’re also packed with sticky sugar, which can feed the decay-causing bacteria that live in the mouth.
Popcorn
By itself, popcorn isn’t that bad for your teeth. However, it is associated with a few things that can cause dental emergencies.
First, there are candy coatings. Caramel popcorn, in particular, is sugary enough to make your teeth hurt, which increases your risk for cavities come January. The second is the unpopped kernels that can be mixed in with the rest of the popcorn; accidentally biting into one of these is a great way to wind up with a chipped tooth.
Nuts
There’s nothing more iconic to the holidays than chestnuts roasting by an open fire, but just like a roaring flame, it’s good to exercise a little caution when eating nuts. Many common shelled nuts, like pistachios, can be tempting to open with your teeth—doing so can potentially damage your teeth and gums. Many holiday nuts are also coated with flavoring that consists mostly of sugar, so they carry the same risk of tooth decay as candy and popcorn.
Of course, it isn’t necessary to completely cut these foods out of your diet. The point of this guide is just to make you aware of the potential dental emergencies that can arise from holiday foods. If you’re careful and enjoy them in moderation, you should still be able to enjoy these seasonal treats.
About the Author
Dr. Khushboo Gandhi has been working in dentistry since 2006, and every day she learns more about how to help her patients with their oral health. She works alongside a friendly dental team that will make your entire family feel at home. Dr. Gandhi received her dental degree in India, and she completed the Advanced Education program for international dentists at the Oklahoma College of Dentistry. If you have any questions about taking care of your teeth over the holidays, she can be reached at her website or by phone at (972) 449-5120.