Holidays can add a little sparkle to your routine, especially when they celebrate good food! But when several of them are packed close together on the calendar, all those tasty treats can add up and do some real harm to your smile.
March seems to be one of those holiday-heavy months, so keep reading to learn how you can protect your teeth.
Sugar and Your Smile
As you read through these holidays, you’ll notice a definite pattern: sugar isn’t good for your smile! This might be something you’ve heard before, but maybe you don’t know why dentists despise sugary diets so much. This sweetener is strongly linked to cavities because it actually accelerates bacteria growth. So while sugar itself doesn’t eat away at your teeth, it empowers the substance that does! A good rule of thumb is to limit your intake and practice good oral hygiene.
Peanut Butter Lovers Day
True, peanut butter is a good source of protein, which makes for an excellent snack and sandwich condiment. However, lots of peanut butter brands put plenty of sugar in their products. Since peanut butter is extremely sticky and difficult to clean off your teeth, the sugars have more time to feed oral bacteria and encourage cavities.
If you are a peanut butter lover, be sure to read the labels and check the sugar content – and chase down your sticky snack with a full glass of water!
National Pi Day
Thanks to some clever wordplay, National Pi Day isn’t just about the mathematical principle. It’s also about the kind of pie you can eat! Pies come in a variety of forms, and some of them are more sugary than others. Mild, simple flavors like pumpkin, banana, and sweet potato will be friendlier to your pearly whites than the ever-patriotic Buckeye pie.
St. Patrick’s Day
St. Patrick’s Day packs a one-two punch of dental problems. If you like to celebrate by visiting your favorite Irish pub, remember to drink responsibly and take sips of water between brews. Alcohol is highly associated with cavities and gum disease, so it’s best to be careful!
If you celebrate St. Patty’s by indulging in green foods, watch how many you eat. Green food coloring adds more sugar to the mix, and it takes a lot of dye to turn something Irish green.
Balance your holiday fun with water, crunchy vegetables, and a consistent oral hygiene routine, and you’ll be far less likely to need a trip to your emergency dentist’s.
About the Practice
Dr. Brooke Buller and Dr. Clay Odenweller both earned their dental degrees from The Ohio State University. They love being able to help patients take care of their smiles and enjoy the connections they get to make each and every day. If you’d like assistance protecting your smile from cavities and gum disease, contact Dr. Buller and Dr. Odenweller’s office at 614-475-1874.