Christmas Treat Catalogue

The cold season is the perfect time to overdose on sugar and sweets. Cold weather make sus crave sweets and special treats more, as burning carbohydrates warms us slightly, and Christmas is always a good excuse to eat candy. But there are other holiday treats that can ruin your teeth as well. This does not mean that you mustn’t eat candy this holiday season! Below is a short list of what to watch out for, and how to minimize the damage this holiday season will have on your chompers.

Gingerbread

This is perhaps the least harmful of the holiday candies. It is often made only with honey and molasses, which generate less bacteria than sugar, but even sugar is used, the baked and gooey nature of it makes it less harmful than raw sugar. The texture of this candy is also such that it should not harm the teeth or gums at all, but can get stuck in the teeth, proliferating bacteria for a long time to come. Make sure you rinse properly after eating these delicious treats, and if you drink milk with it, that can also help minimize the damage.

Hot cocoa or tea

Hot sugary drinks are actually one of the worst things for your teeth. The stark difference between the outside world and the hot beverage, which makes it so great and delicious is also what makes them dangerous, as the sudden change in temperature can cause the tooth enamel to crack. The fact that usually people drink these chocked full of sugar is also no help. Wait a few seconds after coming in from the cold before you drink these warm refreshments.

Hard candies

Hard candies, candy canes, sugary merengue is the worst for your teeth. Not only do they cause wear and tear but they are made entirely of sugar, making them extremely harmful for your teeth. The best way to consume these is to not bite them but break off small pieces and let them melt in the mouth. Make sure you rinse your mouth out thoroughly after eating these, and perhaps some mouthwash could help too.

Chocolate

Chocolate is not all that bad for your teeth, but it is soft and can smear everywhere in your mouth, meaning it is one of the substances that can get all around your mouth and continue to feed bacteria from hard to reach locations. Make sure you rinse your mouth out after eating chocolate.     

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