Keeping your Smile Merry and Bright this Holiday Season

By Dr. Nadia Fugate

The holidays are approaching, and that means fun, festivities and frequent sweet treats. Before loading up on sugar cookies, fruit cake, pumpkin-spiced lattes and other goodies some simple tips can help protect your smile throughout the season and beyond.

Watch what you put in your cup. Eggnog, hot chocolate with marshmallows and lashings of whipped cream, cocktails and wine. It’s not just sweet drinks, but acidic drinks can also harm tooth enamel. Drink water between those beverages to rinse your mouth. 

Choose chocolate over gummy and hard candies. Candy canes are a symbol of the season, but sugars stay in your mouth before dissolving, feeding the bacteria, which can cause tooth decay. Chewing on caramels and other sticky treats are worse, as they allow the sugar to stick onto teeth even longer. Crunching those canes isn’t any better. There is potential for a broken tooth! 

Swap the candies for crunchy crudites, or nibble on some nuts, chocolate or cheese. 

Timing matters. According to the American Dental Association try to avoid snacking throughout the day. Saliva can help reduce acid in your mouth produced by bacteria so having your holiday treats with, or right after, a meal is helpful. 

High sugar consumption in general is damaging to your overall health, frequently exposing your teeth’s enamel throughout the day to high sugar treats keeps your mouth in prime acidic conditions for harmful bacteria and ultimately cavities.

Here are more guidelines for keeping a healthy holiday smile:

  • Keep up your daily routine of brushing twice a day and flossing daily.
  • Eat sweet treats in one sitting, rather than snacking throughout the day.
  • Drink water right after eating sugary treats (bonus points for brushing or bringing a travel sized mouthwash to parties!)
  • Limit hard sticky, candies and sugar-laden drinks
  • Schedule a dental check-up following the holidays.

And finally, don’t use your teeth to unwrap presents, untie holiday ribbon or open plastic wrapping. Use scissors and avoid the possibility of a broken tooth.

Just like the rest of the year, everything is best in moderation. This is by no means a list of what you shouldn’t eat or drink, but it can set in motion some healthier habits to carry into 2026. For more information on your dental health and dental coverage questions visit the Delta Dental of Washington Knowledge Center.

Nadia Fugate, DMD, is Delta Dental of Washington’s Associate Dental Director.

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