The weather is getting colder, and the house inside is starting to glow with the light of fireplaces and warm smiles. It’s around this time that holiday beverages begin to appear en masse on dinner tables and at gatherings. As delicious as these drinks are, there are a few that could affect your dental health in more ways than one.
If you want to learn about the “toothache trio” that could send you to the dentist, continue reading.
1. Wine
Wine, especially spiced and served warm, is a staple of holiday feasts. It’s been enjoyed for centuries and there’s no sign of its popularity waning. Despite how popular and delicious it can be, it’s also a member of the toothache trio.
Wine is highly acidic, slowly eating away at your tooth enamel until your teeth become sensitive and vulnerable to staining. Red wine is especially bad in this regard because it’s full of deep pigments that will find their way into your thinned tooth enamel and stick around long after the party ends.
2. Hot Chocolate
The second member of the toothache trio is hot chocolate. It’s a holiday treat that has stood the test of time and become a favorite for children and adults alike. When made with milk, it can be less acidic than wine, but the real problem is its sugar content. The root cause of cavities and gum disease is the bacterial film that forms on your teeth—plaque.
This substance feeds on sugar and produces acid that eats through your tooth enamel until it forms a small pit. Hot chocolate is loaded with sugar, especially when it comes from a processed package or when it’s topped with marshmallows.
3. Egg Nog
If you thought wine and hot chocolate were the worst of the toothache trio, you haven’t met egg nog. This holiday concoction is the worst of both worlds. Not only is it alcoholic, but it’s also suffused with sugar. Alcohol is known to halt saliva production which is necessary to help wash your teeth, fight bacteria, and help you digest your food.
This, combined with the milk that’s traditionally added to it will coat your mouth with thick, bacterial film. If your mouth then gets dry from the cold, dry air it will become difficult to speak or swallow. All of this taken together creates the perfect environment for bacterial plaque to spread and wreak havoc on your oral health.
During this holiday season, if you wish to dance with the toothache trio, you must remember three rules. One, everything in moderation. Two, keep water at hand to rinse your mouth and clear bacteria, and three—brush your teeth! With these rules in place, you’ll have a happy holiday and come out of it without a toothache of your own.
About the Author
Dr. Bikram Singh is a friendly and talented dentist who has dedicated his life to the study of dentistry. His favorite part of his job is seeing the confident smiles of his patients and forming bonds with them. Dr. Singh graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine with a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. Since then, he has continued to expand his skillset to better serve his patients. To schedule an appointment at Cary Dental Rejuvenation, call (919) 460-5454 or visit the website to discover other services.