The holidays are almost upon us, and if you are like many, you are already dreaming of all the glorious food to be eaten over these next few months. You can almost taste that warm salty gravy and those fluffy, buttery mashed potatoes. While we understand indulging now in then, we also know that some foods are better choices than others.

Below you will find the 10 worst holiday foods for your teeth. You may want to skip these and opt instead for another tasty option.

10 Worst Holiday Foods For Your Teeth

Candy Canes

While festive and fun, these are one of the worst foods for your teeth. Not only are they entirely made of sugar, but they are meant to be enjoyed slowly. This means that the sugar from these sweet treats stays on our teeth for longer periods of time. Giving the bacteria, which causes decay, more time to eat the sugar and coat the teeth. If you need a sugary fix, make it your goal to enjoy it quickly, and then drink a big glass of water afterward to help wash away the sugar.

Cranberry Sauce

A Thanksgiving staple for many of us, but the sugar content is the problem with canned cranberry sauce. Instead, opt for fresh cranberries. The vitamins and nutrients in fresh cranberries can help protect your teeth from bacteria that cause plaque.

Eggnog

Similar to candy canes, eggnog is meant to be slowly enjoyed. This leaves plenty of time for the sugar in eggnog to stay on the teeth and cause decay. If you must enjoy a glass of eggnog, aim to drink it relatively quickly to avoid sugar from staying on the teeth for long periods.

Caramel Candies

Whether homemade or store-bought, this is a tasty sticky treat many of us look forward to every year. However, the stickiness and sugar contents make this one of the worst foods for your teeth.

Red Wine

Sorry to all wine lovers. Red wine is notorious for staining teeth and can reduce saliva production.

Dried Fruit

Fruit is good for us. However, dried fruit sticks to the teeth, allowing sugar to get stuck in the nooks and crannies, leading to decay. Fresh fruit is always a better choice.

Caramel Popcorn

The perfect crunchy sweet, and salty snack. However, this type of popcorn is loaded with sugar. It also sticks to the teeth, and the kernels are notorious for getting caught in the gum line. If not flossed and removed, this can lead to gum issues.

Stuffing 

Another Thanksgiving staple is stuffing. While delicious, it’s important to know that it is sticky and composed primarily of carbohydrates, which is sugar. The starch in the bread breaks down as sugar and can cause tooth decay.

Pecan Pie

Again, this is a sugar-loaded sticky food which makes it one of the worst for your smile. The good news is that there are so many pie options. Opt for a different slice.

Fruit Cake

Sticky and full of sugar, noticing a trend here? Again, this sticky food contains candied fruit, which sticks to the teeth, leading to an increased risk of decay.

Remember to Practice Good Oral Hygiene All Year

The best way to keep your smile healthy is to practice good oral hygiene 365 days a year. Remember to brush twice daily, floss daily, use an alcohol-free mouth rinse daily, drink plenty of water, and chew sugar-free gum after eating or drinking anything other than water.

Also, don’t forget to schedule your regularly teeth cleaning.