The holiday season is always filled with a lot of family, friends and food. From family parties to friendsgiving dinners there is barely time to sleep before you are moving on to the next activity or dinner. Your teeth with stand the test of time between the multiple holiday themed desserts to hot chocolate and coffee that can easily stain your teeth. It is important to be proactive to prevent any last minute trips to Dental Professionals of Lincoln Park this season.
Tips to Promote Dental Health
Holidays may be associated with nutcrackers, though don’t let your teeth be the ones breaking the shells off. The hard surface can seriously damage your teeth and gums, and could possibly lead to a cracked tooth. So, instead of risking the life of your beautiful pearly whites, shell the nuts before you eat them and keep your teeth safe.
Gifts that come in packages can be difficult to open, but do not get too excited and use your teeth to rip open a present. The same goes with a bottle cap, grab a pair of scissors or a bottle opener before risking a root canal or a crown. Save your teeth the pain.
From caramel to taffy to marshmallow filled treats that fill the dessert platters, make sure you avoid these sticky and chewy snacks. Sticky treats can cling to your tooth enamel and be a precursor to tooth decay while caramel and taffy can pull out fillings. Having one or two is not the worst idea, but keep these chewy types of desserts to a minimum.
Hard candy can also damage your teeth. They can lead to cracked or chipped teeth, which can be expensive even if it is a small chip in your tooth. Let the candy dissolve in your mouth or avoid the hard candy altogether to relieve stress on your teeth.
Teeth Friendly Low-Sugar Dessert
Low-sugar treats are the best kinds of desserts for your teeth and promote dental health. Here is a recipe you can use for delicious low-sugar chocolate chip cookies:
Ingredients: 1 heaping cup flour, ¼ tsp salt, ½ tsp baking soda, ¼ cup brown sugar, ¼ cup sugar, ⅔ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 2 tbsp vegetable oil and ¼ cup milk
Directions: Preheat your oven to 375° F. Put all of the dry ingredients in a bowl, including the chocolate chips and mix them together. Add the remaining ingredients and mix again. Form the dough into balls and place on a cookie sheet, each about an inch apart. Bake for six or seven minutes and then cool on a baking sheet for two minutes. Bring your cookies to a holiday party and they are sure to be a hit.
Dental Professionals of Lincoln Park wants you to enjoy your holiday season with no worries about your teeth. Follow these quick tips and you will not only save money and avoid painful teeth accidents, but your cookies will be the hit of your holiday gift exchange or family dinner. Happy holidays from everyone at Dental Professionals of Lincoln Park.
Source: Delta Dental Insurance