As sweet as the end of the year may feel, you don’t want to close it out with a toothache. While there’s no harm in indulging in a few sweet treats this month, some foods are worse for your teeth than others.

Teeth and Sweets Aren’t Friends

Teeth start to decay when the bacteria that naturally live in your mouth turns sugars and carbohydrates into acids. The acids eat into the enamel on the surface of your teeth, which leads to cavities.

A major cause of tooth decay is eating sugary, sticky foods and drinking sugary beverages. The more sugar and carbohydrates you eat, the more acid your mouth can produce, putting you at higher risk for cavities and plaque buildup.

Smart with a Bit of Sweet

This holiday season, resolve to make smile-smart choices:

• Avoid sticky foods with hard candies, dried fruits and excess sugar. Instead of lollipops or sugar cookies, choose gingerbread cookies, which generally contain less sugar. And toss a few organic dark chocolates in stockings instead of hard candies. Plant-based antioxidants called flavonoids in dark chocolate have been shown to slow tooth decay.
• Enjoy those chestnuts “roasting over an open fire.” Chestnuts, along with nuts in general, contain vitamin C, which is necessary for the formation of teeth, bones and blood vessels. Just check carefully for shells that can scratch your gums or crack teeth.
• Eat more fiber-dense fruits and veggies, which are your best bet to keep you far from the dentist’s chair.
• Snack on healthy foods before you go a holiday gathering so you’re not starving when you get there.
• Chew on cheese. High in protein and calcium, cheese makes you feel fuller longer. It also can increase the pH level of your mouth, which helps prevent cavities.
• Drink sugar-free water or green and black teas rather than eggnog, hot chocolate, alcohol or soda. Water is always a good bet, while green and black teas contain polyphenols, which help eliminate bacteria from tooth surfaces.

View more oral health tips and information for a healthier new year.