Holiday Dental Health Tip

This time of year there is no shortage of seasonal treats to enjoy during meals with family and friends! One seasonal food that is not only delicious but also benefits your smile may surprise you… cranberries!

This holiday season try substituting some cranberries for those sugary sweets. They have a tart yet sweet taste, offer many health benefits and studies suggest they may even help with your oral health!

How can cranberries help your smile?

The juice of a cranberry contains compounds which reduces the formation of enzymes associated with plaque.
The phenolic acids in cranberries help to block bacteria from adhering to tooth surfaces reducing plaque buildup.
This means that the compounds found in the cranberry’s juices act to inhibit plaque from forming on your teeth as well as attaching to itself. The result is a reduction in plaque buildup (a major cause of cavities and gum disease) on both your teeth and gums. Aside from their great taste and oral health benefits, cranberries have been linked to many positive health attributes throughout your body.

What happens with tooth enamel, when you have an acidic drink

On a side note, as with any acidic food or drink, wait for at least 30 minutes after enjoying cranberries before brushing your teeth. This allows the enamel time to regain its strength as it is ‘softened’ when eating such foods.

So next time you reach for a sugary drink or sweet candy treat this holiday season give your mouth a gift and enjoy some cranberries or cranberry juice instead.