{"id":56,"date":"2020-11-19T15:31:00","date_gmt":"2020-11-19T15:31:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pacedental.com\/blog\/?p=56"},"modified":"2020-11-19T15:31:00","modified_gmt":"2020-11-19T15:31:00","slug":"tips-for-protecting-your-teeth-from-holiday-foods","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pacedental.com\/blog\/tips-for-protecting-your-teeth-from-holiday-foods\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Tips for Enjoying the Holiday Season Without Ruining Your Teeth"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Festive<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

From warm peppermint lattes and delicious candied pecans to\nsugary-sweet candy canes and ooey-gooey cookies, this time of year just wouldn\u2019t\nbe the same without lots and lots of holiday foods. Still, it\u2019s no secret that\nthese seasonal staples aren\u2019t exactly mouth-healthy. In fact, indulging in too<\/em>\nmany festive treats can result in decay and cavities. Here are a few tips to\nprevent that from happening!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

#1. Make\nDental Care To-Go<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ideally, you\u2019d have time to complete your entire oral\nhygiene routine after each meal. However, between days at the office and any\npotential travel plans, sometimes it\u2019s a bit unrealistic. Fortunately, you can\nstill help protect your teeth by packing a dental care to-go kit. Simply include\nthe basic staples, like travel-sized toothpaste, a collapsible toothbrush, and\nmini-floss in your purse or pocket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#2. Limit\nSugary Treats<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Pecan pie, gingerbread cookies, and eggnog are just a few\nfestive goodies that your tastebuds love but your teeth despise. As soon as the\nsugar from these treats hits your mouth, they turn into enamel-eroding acid\nthat wreaks havoc on your teeth. Therefore, it\u2019s best to be mindful of your\nconsumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#3. Skip Soda\n(& Other Sugary Drinks)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The months between Halloween and New Year\u2019s Eve are jam-packed\nwith lots of sugar, even without cavity-causing beverages like soda. With this\nin mind, stick with water whenever possible. Not only will it keep you hydrated\nand healthy during cold and flu season, but it will also rinse away food\nparticles, which protects your teeth from decay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#4. Avoid\nSticky, Hard, and Gummy Foods<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For decades, dentists have warned their patients of the\ndangers of consuming too much sugar. However, sugary beverages and foods aren\u2019t\nthe only culprits of cavities. In fact, sticky, hard, and gummy foods are also\noffenders! So, exercise moderation with treats like caramel, peanut brittle, toffee,\nand marshmallows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#5. Prioritize\nYour Oral Hygiene Routine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Whether you are traveling out of town or using your time off\nto reset before the new year, the holiday season often disrupts our usual\nroutine. Sadly, a diligent brushing and flossing routine is often the first to\ngo. Since this allows the food particles, plaque, and bacteria in your mouth to\nwreak havoc on your teeth and gums, it\u2019s important to brush your teeth twice a\nday, floss daily, and use mouthwash regularly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since cases of tooth decay spike this time of year, there\nreally is no time like the present to implement the above tips. That way, you\ncan enjoy all this season has to offer without compromising your oral health!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Author<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Since earning his dental doctorate at the USC School of\nDentistry, Dr. Ahmed\nSaad<\/a> has spent the last 15+ years helping patients achieve healthy, strong,\nbeautiful smiles. He firmly believes in the power of preventive care<\/a>,\nwhich is why he is happy to help his community with everything from a professional\ncheckup and cleaning and oral cancer screening to fluoride treatments. So, if\nyou are overdue for your biannual appointment or your teeth need some\nend-of-the-year TLC, don\u2019t hesitate to visit his website<\/a> or give him a call\nat 703-938-6800<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

From warm peppermint lattes and delicious candied pecans to sugary-sweet candy canes and ooey-gooey cookies, this time of year just wouldn\u2019t be the same without lots and lots of holiday foods. Still, it\u2019s no secret that these seasonal staples aren\u2019t exactly mouth-healthy. In fact, indulging in too many festive treats can result in decay and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-56","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pacedental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pacedental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pacedental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pacedental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pacedental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=56"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/pacedental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pacedental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=56"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pacedental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=56"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pacedental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=56"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}