Whether you’re preparing to sit down and enjoy a delicious meal with family or gearing up to spend the evening partying with friends, you want your smile to look its best this time of year. With photo booths ready for silly smiles and selfies around every corner, keeping your teeth beautifully white can be challenging, especially if you enjoy a few holiday drinks this time of year. To avoid embarrassment when showing off your smile, consider saying “no thank you” should these three beverages be passed around at your party.
Which Holiday Drinks Are Most Harmful to Teeth?
While some beverages are commonly found among the list of available drinks at any party (i.e., coffee, tea, and soda), there are others that are equally harmful to teeth if consumed in excess. These include:
- Eggnog – It’s almost impossible to avoid enjoying a glass of eggnog during the holiday season, but having too much of it can cause serious problems for your teeth. Containing sugar and alcohol, this dairy-based beverage can cause bad oral bacteria to form as well as dry mouth and potential cavities.
- Citrus Punch – Any kind of holiday punch is likely to be an enemy of your teeth. No matter if you choose cherry, blackberry, blueberry, or another acidic and/or highly pigmented color, these can often result in tooth stains as well as a breakdown of enamel. The latter is especially true if you choose fruits like oranges or lemons.
- Wine – Enjoying a nice meal with a glass of wine can seem harmful, but the tannins found, especially in red wine, can result in discoloration of your tooth enamel. While regular brushing can help to remove surface stains, it often takes professional services to remove those that form beneath the enamel layer. Not to mention, both red and white wine contain lots of acid, which can erode the outer layer of teeth.
Are There Safer Options to Consume During the Holidays?
Absolutely! When attending a party or hosting family and friends this holiday season, consider sipping on or enjoying the following beverage options for a whiter, brighter smile:
- Sparkling water
- Milk
- Gin
- Soda water
- Light beer
- Root beer
- Regular water
If you’re concerned about the look of your teeth around the holidays, don’t dismiss the notion of meeting with a cosmetic dentist to discuss the possibility of teeth whitening. This revolutionary service makes it easy to see brighter teeth in less time, and it’s completely safe.
Your holidays don’t have to involve hiding from photos or avoiding social gatherings altogether. Making wiser choices about the beverages you consume can have you enjoying a more beautiful smile well into the new year.
About the Author
Dr. Mariya Barnett completed her undergraduate and doctorate at the University of Michigan. She then obtained her Advanced Education in General Dentistry through a residency program at Texas A&M Baylor College of Dentistry. She and her team know the holidays can be a tricky time for patients who want to look their best but also indulge in some sweet treats and beverages. If you need help to stave off stains, visit the website or call (214) 373-9903.
