Santa Claus might not be coming to town just yet, but a lot of the sweet treats and yummy holiday treats have already made their way into our homes this year. If you’re concerned about what your favorite holiday treats are doing to your teeth and gums, have no fear! Mountain Aire Dentistry is here to walk you through the best holiday foods for your teeth and gums. 

Holiday Treats Good for Your Smile

If you’re not sure of what holiday treats you can make that still allow you to maintain a healthy smile, try some of these recipes from MouthHealthy and the American Dental Association:

Egg Snowmen

This recipe is made using hard boiled eggs stacked on top of each other to resemble snowmen. Then, use carrots and peppercorns to give each snowman a hat, buttons, and a nose!

Why it’s good: eggs are full of vitamin D, which can help you absorb calcium in the bone that supports your teeth. Additionally, carrots are crunchy and full of water and can act like a natural toothbrush.

Spinach Artichoke Frittata Trees

These cute appetizers are made using a Christmas Tree cupcake and is a fun, healthier, spin on a classic favorite: spinach artichoke dip.

Why it’s good: it’s made with ingredients that are filled with calcium, vitamins, and minerals — all of which help you maintain a healthy smile.

Olive Penguins

Use black olives to create the shape of a penguin, creating that classic white belly with cream cheese and flippers made of carrots.

Why it’s good: like we mentioned above, carrots are a great way to naturally clean the teeth! Additionally, cream cheese contains high amounts of calcium, too.

Cheesy Reindeer

Cheese is always a great option for dental health. Using slices of cheese for the reindeer’s head, create a face using black olives for the eyes, red pepper for the nose, and pretzels for the antlers.

Why it’s good: it’s another holiday recipe filled with calcium and topped with veggies — a healthier appetizer/snack alternative to other traditional favorites.

Pita Tree Appetizers

Using pita bread cut into triangles for the base of your tree, this fun appetizer can be topped with low-fat sour cream or avocado and decorated with red peppers or other vegetables.

Why it’s good: low-fat sour cream, if used, is a great source of vitamin D. Alternatively, if you use avocado, it’s a great source of healthy fats.

Grinch Poppers

This cute holiday snack uses a green grape as the head of your Grinch, bananas and strawberries, and a small marshmallow to create a Santa hat.

Why it’s good: fruit is great for your smile and filled with vitamins and minerals that our smiles need to thrive.

Holiday Treats to Stay Away From

Of course, not all holiday treats are good for your teeth! Here are a few recipes that you should avoid if you’re looking to maintain a healthy smile:

Fruitcake

This dense and sticky cake is notoriously full of sugar and can be hard to chew.

Why it’s bad: fruitcake is packed with sugar, which can quickly lead to tooth decay. Additionally, the dense texture can cause damage to teeth if chewed on forcefully.

Pecan Pie

This pie is filled with a sticky, sugary filling and topped with a pecan crust.

Why it’s bad: the sugary filling can lead to tooth decay. Additionally, the sticky texture can be abrasive to teeth.

Gingerbread House Decor

It is a fun holiday activity to have your kids help you decorate the gingerbread house. However, this holiday treat isn’t so great for their teeth.

Why it’s bad: like fruitcake, this dish is full of sugar and can cause tooth decay. Additionally, the candy and icing that is typically used to decorate gingerbread houses is high in sugar and can be harmful to teeth.

How to Maintain a Healthy Smile

Of course we want you to enjoy all of your favorite holiday treats this season. To maintain a healthy smile no matter what treats you enjoy in the next few weeks, take care of your smile with these tips:

• Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
• Floss your teeth once daily.
• Eat a healthy diet that limits sugary foods and drinks.
• See your dentist twice a year for deep cleanings and exams.
• Choose oral hygiene products with the ADA seal of acceptance.
• Drink tap water, which is fluoridated in many communities in the United States.
• Don’t smoke.

Make an Appointment with Mountain Aire Dentistry

We hope you enjoyed reading a little bit about dental hygiene and our favorite holiday recipes! We wish you all the best going into the holiday season. If you would like to learn more about dental care or anything related to your smile, feel free to contact us at Mountain Aire Dentistry today. We’re happy to help in any way that we can. Have a happy and healthy holiday season!