The holiday season is always associated with sweet treats and rich foods, which can be a real challenge to your teeth. But it’s not all candy canes and cookies; there are also many tooth-friendly foods that can help protect your teeth while you enjoy the festivities. All this could keep your smile shining with a healthy, nutrient packed holidays; let’s take a closer look at the top 5 holiday foods that are beneficial to your teeth:
1. Cheese: A Calcium Powerhouse
Cheese is one of the finest foods for your teeth and just so happens to typically make its way onto our holiday tables! Cheese is rich in calcium and phosphate, which are both known to strengthen tooth enamel, making it more resistant to decay. As you eat cheese, it also neutralizes acids in your mouth that can cause erosion of tooth enamel. Moreover, cheese stimulates the production of saliva, which helps to naturally wash away food particles and reduces the formation of plaque. Whether you’re enjoying a cheese platter, sprinkling some on a holiday casserole, or eating a slice of cheese with a fruit platter, your teeth will thank you.
Tip: Choose aged cheeses, like cheddar or gouda, as they contain higher levels of calcium and are less likely to contain added sugars.
2. Apples and Carrots: Nature’s Natural Tooth Scrubbers
Crunchy fruits and vegetables, like apples and carrots, are great not only for holiday snacking but also for your oral health. As you chew, these crunchy foods help scrub away plaque from the surface of your teeth. The fibrous texture of these fruits and vegetables acts like a natural toothbrush, gently cleaning your teeth while you enjoy them. Plus, they stimulate saliva production that helps neutralize acids and flush out food particles, so your mouth feels fresh and clean.
Apples, in particular, are packed with vitamins like vitamin C, which helps maintain healthy gums. Carrots are loaded with beta-carotene, which the body converts into vitamin A-an essential nutrient for maintaining healthy tooth enamel.
Tip: Dipping apple slices into a small amount of peanut butter makes for a perfect, festive snack that not only tastes good but also has a positive effect on teeth!
3. Cranberries: The Antioxidant Powerhouse
One is definitely a holiday favorite of which everyone knows its tanginess, but the most astounding about cranberries is how full of antioxidants they can be. The small little berry can prevent harmful bacteria that can lead to a lot of plaque buildup as well as cavities by making it difficult for bad bacteria to stick to teeth because of the proanthocyanidins in these little berries.
Yet note that sugar content can dilute the benefits from sugar-containing cranberry sauces or dried cranberries. The fresh ones are the way to go, as they tend to have less sugar content and more beneficial nutrients.
Tip: Add some fresh cranberries to a salad, smoothie, or your holiday fruit bowl to munch on a healthy and good-for-your-teeth treat!
4. Dark Chocolate: A Sweet Treat with Benefits
Good news for chocolate lovers—dark chocolate can actually be better for your teeth than milk chocolate! Dark chocolate contains less sugar and is rich in antioxidants, particularly flavonoids, which help protect your teeth from harmful bacteria that cause cavities. These antioxidants also help reduce inflammation in the gums, which is a plus for maintaining overall oral health.
There’s also a compound called theobromine found in dark chocolate, which helps to stiffen tooth enamel and increase resistance to decay. Just do not overdo it; too much sugar can have bad effects on your teeth.
Tip: For most health benefits and less sugar, choose dark chocolate containing at least 70% cocoa.
5. Nuts and Seeds: Healthy Snacking Options
Almonds, cashews, and walnuts are full of good nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats, which are great for keeping strong and healthy teeth. Nuts also are a good source of calcium, which helps strengthen teeth, and they contain phosphorus, which works in conjunction with calcium to remineralize tooth enamel.
Moreover, nuts can help eliminate plaque while stimulating saliva for better oral health and safety against destructive acids. Also, pumpkin or sunflower seeds, among others, are rich in minerals such as zinc that maintains healthy gums and fights gum disease.
Tip: Have a bowl of assorted nuts on the holiday table or add to your holiday baking for that festive tooth-friendly treat.
The holidays don’t have to be a time of dental dread! You can have your holiday cake and keep your teeth healthy too, by incorporating some tooth-friendly foods into your holiday meals. Cheese, apples, carrots, cranberries, dark chocolate, and nuts are all tooth-friendly. Of course, it’s essential to continue with your good oral hygiene routine—brushing, flossing, and visiting your dentist regularly—but these nutrient-packed foods will give your teeth additional protection during the holiday feasts. Enjoy the season and don’t forget to smile!