At Carolina’s Dental Choice, the goal is to help you keep your teeth pearly white this holiday season. The holidays means those delicious, extra sugary beverages that are likely to stain your teeth or even worse increase the risk of tooth decay. So, pick your poison: extra coffee to stay up late for Santa, red wines to celebrate, or the classic holiday egg nog. All of these holiday favorites, even classic hot chocolate, can do a number to your bright smile.

Dark beverages such as coffee and red wines often stain teeth. They stain your teeth and cause a yellowish color that puts a damper on your bright smile. Sugary drinks like egg nog are also very harmful to your teeth. Key word, sugar! Sugar is a huge factor in causing cavities and tooth decay. Not to mention the alcohol in these beverages can cause dry mouth, which can lead to bigger oral health problems. To avoid staining your teeth and prevent tooth decay this holiday season there are a few precautions you can take:

  1. Drink Through a Straw- It may look a little funny drinking your wine through a straw, but using this technique will minimize the contact the liquid has with your teeth.

 

  1. Brush Often- Brushing your teeth after drinking a dark colored beverage or sugary drink will help minimize any residue it leaves behind.

 

  1. Rise Your Mouth with Water- After drinking a strongly colored drink or sweetened beverage, chase it down with water. The water will help eliminate any substances left behind.

 

  1. Change It Up- Try a light colored tea for caffeine or a white wine for a drink. You can also choose to make your own beverages using a natural sugar-free sweetener.

 

Don’t worry too much about your diet, it is completely okay to splurge over the holidays. Just make sure to keep your oral health a top priority once the holidays are over. If your teeth get a little stained or you feel there is some left behind sugar, schedule an appointment with us at Carolina’s Dental Choice. We can do a whitening treatment or a dental cleaning to get you a healthier smile.