Smile-Survival Tips to Get Your Teeth Through the Holiday Spread

Turkey, gingerbread, and chestnuts roasting on an open fire – it is obvious that food is important over the holidays. One of the central components of a big seasonal celebration is the holiday spread. Many people submit to packing on a few extra pounds over the holidays, but indulging doesn't have to mean trouble for your teeth as well. Read on for some simple guidelines to help steer you towards the spread's smile-friendly offerings. 

• Say cheese! Most respectable holiday gatherings will include the customary cheese-and-cracker tray. Holiday snackers will be happy to hear that cheese gets the nod of approval from the Woodbridge Dental team, as its calcium-rich nutrient profile promotes tooth health, while also creating an ideal PH balance in your mouth to offset the damages wrought by wine's acidity. 

• Nut-up for the holidays. When your hands are hovering over the snack bar, try to resist the chips and candies. Instead, encourage a move towards the obligatory bowl of mixed nuts. Packed with calcium, vitamin D, folic acid, iron, and much more, nuts are a great dietary choice for oral health, and will fill you up quickly so that you can resist the sugary snacks. 

• Eat your vegetables. Forget the holidays – most party spreads in general are incomplete without crudités, the traditional French appetizer made up of an array of raw chopped veggies served with a dipping sauce. Broccoli and carrots promote strong oral health because their vitamin A-rich nutrient profile builds strong enamel, and because chomping on raw veggies both cleans your teeth and stimulates healthy blood flow.