Holiday Sweets — and Carbs — No Treat For Your Teeth

Dec. 15, 2021 — It’s no shock that many individuals consider the vacations are meant for us to place apart our dietary senses and bask in all of the yummy meals that we’d keep away from on a traditional day.

While many of those festive treats could trigger critical issues for our tooth, others are filled with vitamins and might trigger little or no hurt.

Classic meals and meals like cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, or stuffing, whereas scrumptious and comforting, can wreak havoc in your tooth as a result of all of the sugar in cranberry sauce and the variety of carbs in stuffing that may flip into plaque.

But loading up your plate with veggies, turkey, and even inexperienced bean casserole will offer you the well being advantages you want.

So, how are you going to shield your tooth this vacation season whereas nonetheless having fun with the meals we crave all yr lengthy?

Avoid Fermentable Carbohydrates

“Most people think of sugar as being bad for your teeth, whereas fermentable carbs are way worse than regular candy,” says Whitney Rose DiFoggio.

With expertise as a Chicago-based dental hygienist, DiFoggio understands what these fermentable carbs are all about.

“Fermentable carbs are carbohydrates that are broken down by the bacteria in your mouth. Now when this happens, acids are produced in your mouth, which can, unfortunately, quickly lead to tooth decay,” she says.

Examples of those carbs are processed meals like white bread, graham crackers, and cereal, to call only a few.

Fermentable carbs are acidic in nature, and though that’s what’s chargeable for tooth decay, they’re not inherently dangerous.

San Diego registered dietitian nutritionist Wendy Bazilian, a health care provider of public well being, says “they are actually good to an extent because they break down easier and also help to fuel the gut bacteria.”

But their profit is short-lived by the truth that they break down simply. Due to their pro-inflammatory nature, your oral well being could also be affected.

But how do these fermentable carbs really injury your tooth? DiFoggio makes use of white bread for example.

“When bread mixes with your saliva, it turns into a paste, and that paste sticks on your teeth, which increases your oral cavities,” she says.

And can you sweep away these carbs proper after consuming? Yes, though there’s a catch.

DiFoggio says that you just need to wait half-hour after consuming earlier than you sweep.

 “If you don’t wait 30 minutes, you might erode your enamel because the food you eat is mostly acidic. And these acids could soften your tooth enamel,” she says.

What to Do Instead

Nona Djavid, a vitamin and weight reduction skilled in California, says that you may “drink plenty of water and add foods to your diet that are rich in calcium to negate the acidity.”

She says that you need to “take these carbs with the main dish (especially food rich in calcium), take a spoonful of yogurt after eating, and rinse your mouth with water.”

DiFoggio demonstrated find out how to nonetheless eat these carbs and preserve nice oral hygiene.

“Although it is easier said than done to limit snacking, try to avoid snacking frequently,” she says. “Instead, you can try taking in all the ‘junk’ at once with your main meal. Also, consider drinking lots of water throughout the day to wash away the food debris from your teeth.”

“Water can sneak into the crevices of your teeth and gums and help rinse off the food particles, residue, and remnants from your bites and chews. It helps wash it all down — or when brushing and rinsing, spit it all out,” Bazilian says

As a nutritionist, she provides that “eating cheese at the end of the meal can help bring the pH of the mouth back up faster toward neutrality.”

The Way Forward This Holiday Season

“Everyone deserves to indulge. However, we often feel guilty when we do. Even if you’re enrolled in a weight loss program, you are absolutely allowed to treat yourself this holiday season,” says Djavid.

The key ingredient is to mentally put together your self to be able to keep away from guilt. Experts say that it’s finest should you select a time to bask in all of the goodies over the vacations. Djavid recommends consuming heavier meals and drinks intermittently (for instance, 3-5 p.m.). Just don’t be on a roll for 12 hours. 

Swap the cocktail for soda water blended with liquor or different drinks like laborious seltzers and kombuchas. Don’t overlook to convey your individual snacks! A bag of carrots or baked candy potato chips can go a great distance. 

As the proprietor of a weight reduction program, Djavid paves a means for consuming the fitting means. “If you’re going to taste various meals, try smaller portions so you don’t feel restricted, versus overindulging on one item. One bite of a delicious cookie isn’t going to kill your diet.”

Bazilian reminds us that “the mouth is a gateway to our health.” Remember that it’s the solely place the place you’ll be able to chew and kick off digestion to nourish each cell and organ in your physique — so holding it wholesome is necessary.