Enjoy sweets during holidays without hurting your teeth: Dentist's trick
Dentist explains how to enjoy sweets without harming teeth (photo: Freepik)
During the winter holidays, teeth need special care to minimize damage from sweets. Cheese is ideal, as it helps naturally clean tooth enamel, according to The Mirror.
Effect of cheese on teeth
Dentist Deepa Chopra explained that the combination of sugar acids and constant snacking during the holiday season creates ideal conditions for enamel erosion. Many people underestimate how harmful Christmas sweets can be until they experience tooth pain and gum sensitivity.
According to her, cheese can actually help protect teeth. This is because it raises the pH level in the mouth, stimulates saliva production, and provides calcium and phosphate, which strengthen enamel.
A small piece of cheese after dessert can help neutralize acids and reduce the impact of sweets.
A study published on PubMed analyzed plaque pH levels in 12–15-year-old children who had not brushed their teeth for 48 hours. Participants were given various dairy products to consume. Cheese was found to be the most effective in preventing cavities.
Results showed that plaque pH was higher 30 minutes after consuming cheese, and levels continued to improve over time.
Other foods beneficial for teeth
In addition to cheese, Dr. Chopra highlighted the benefits of turkey and nuts for dental health. Turkey can be helpful due to its calcium and phosphorus content, which support strong enamel.
However, she warned that turkey fibers often get stuck between teeth and should be removed with dental floss to prevent cavities.
Nuts are one of the best options for holiday snacking because they provide nutrients such as calcium and vitamin D, which support healthy teeth and bones.
This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.
