While the holidays are famous for the food, it could easily be argued that what you drink is equally as important. There are all kinds of beverages that can warm you up in the cold, or that can make your holiday party a little more festive, and sometimes it can feel like the season isn’t complete until you have some of them.
However, it’s worth keeping in mind that many of these drinks aren’t really the best for your teeth. If you want to get through the holiday season with your smile intact, here are a few holiday refreshments you ought to exercise caution around.
Egg Nogg
This is a little bit of a “love-it-or-hate-it” holiday tradition. Some people can’t stand the taste, but others can’t seem to get enough of it this time of year.
The problem is that egg nogg is absolutely loaded with sugar. If you aren’t careful, it can be very easy to start to see your oral health degrade from drinking it too much.
The issues compound when you drink spiked egg nogg—the alcohol in these drinks dry out the mouth, which means that these sugars have a harder time being washed away. The longer these sugars sit on the teeth, the more likely they are to cause problems.
Hot Chocolate
While most people don’t necessarily spike their hot chocolate, this drink can still be just as harmful for your teeth as some alcoholic drinks. The sheer amount of sugar in your average hot chocolate is staggering, even more so if you add marshmallows to yours.
Red Wine
While not necessarily exclusive to the holidays, many people make a habit of drinking red wine when they meet up with family or having it during large meals. Not only is red wine sugary and alcoholic, but as you probably know, it can also stain your teeth if you overindulge.
While each of these drinks are okay in moderation, you should try not to go overboard. So long as you’re careful, you should be able to make it through the holidays with a still-shining smile!
About Our Practice
At EMA Dental, we want to be your home for any dental need that you could have. No matter what brings you into our office, we will take the time to understand precisely what issues could be affecting your oral health and to design a treatment plan specifically tailored to your needs. People’s smiles are as unique as they are, which is why you deserve dental care that’s equally special.
If you have any questions about how to protect your smile over the holidays, we can be reached at our website. You can also call our Northampton location at (413) 584-4900.