Thanksgiving may be over, but there’ll be more festive meals to enjoy soon. Christmas, Hanukkah, and other December holidays will have great seasonal spreads once they arrive. That said, you should take precautions and ensure they don’t harm your smile. Many holiday drinks are hard on teeth and can damage oral health if you have too much. As for which ones, your Chesterfield dentist will clear that point up for you. Here are some holiday beverages you should watch out for this winter.
Red Wine
As you attend holiday parties and get-togethers, you may want to drink red wine. It’s an elegant way of celebrating friends and family as the year ends. However, you shouldn’t go overboard.
You see, red wine can put your teeth in trouble. This type of alcohol has acids that wear down your tooth enamel over time. At the same time, its tannins and coloring can leave you with dark and obvious smile stains. That means drinking too much would give you a weak and reddened grin.
Holiday Punch
It’s easy to have a lot of holiday punch as November shifts into December. Even so, please try to hold back; this drink won’t do your smile any favors.
While exceptions exist, holiday punch usually damages teeth. It tends to feature berry juice with loads of chromogens – chemical compounds that stain enamel. Many kinds also have a high sugar content, which can easily decay your teeth and raise your risk of cavities.
Hot Cocoa
Now that the weather is turning cold, many families are breaking out the hot cocoa. This chocolatey drink helps plenty of folks warm up and feel cozy. Still, limit yourself for the sake of oral health.
Hot cocoa has the same sort of dental risks as holiday punch. For starters, it has chromogens that cling to enamel and cause tooth stains. The beverage is also loaded with sugar from cocoa and marshmallows, so drinking it can lead to cavities.
Eggnog
What are the winter holidays without some eggnog? Many families will swear by this drink and treat it as a tradition. However, the truth is that you should restrict your intake.
Eggnog happens to be one of the worst holiday drinks for teeth. Because its milk content attracts bacteria, it often gives people really bad breath. Its sugar levels are also high enough to put you at risk of tooth decay. Eggnog’s alcohol can even trigger dry mouth, making oral infections more likely.
Since several holiday drinks are hard on teeth, try to be careful this season. Go easy on the ones above and talk to your dentist for further help.
About the Practice
Yenzer Family Dental of Chesterfield is based in Chesterfield, MO. As led by Dr. Jeff Yenzer himself, our practice aims to give every patient a healthy and thriving smile. We embody that commitment by offering preventive, cosmetic, and restorative treatments tailored to your mouth and its needs. This varied care ensures your whole family will enjoy fantastic teeth and gums! For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (636)-778-3019.