5 Holiday Habits That Could Sabotage Your Smile This Season

The holiday season brings joy, celebration, and plenty of indulgence. While you’re checking off your gift list and planning festive gatherings, your dental health might be the last thing on your mind. However, the weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s can be surprisingly tough on your teeth and gums.

From sugary treats at every turn to changes in your daily routine, the holidays present unique challenges for maintaining optimal oral health. Understanding these risks can help you enjoy the season without compromising your smile. Here’s what your dentist wants you to know about protecting your teeth during the most wonderful—and potentially most damaging—time of the year.

#1 The Constant Sugar Assault

Holiday celebrations mean one thing is always within reach: sweets. Cookie exchanges, candy canes, chocolate samplers, and dessert tables create an environment where sugar consumption becomes almost unavoidable.

The problem isn’t just the amount of sugar you consume—it’s the frequency. When you snack on sugary foods throughout the day, you’re essentially bathing your teeth in an acidic environment for hours on end. The bacteria in your mouth feed on these sugars and produce acid as a byproduct, which attacks your enamel and creates the perfect conditions for cavities to develop.

Common Holiday Culprits:

• Candy Canes and Hard Candies: These dissolve slowly in your mouth, prolonging sugar exposure and increasing cavity risk. Crunching on hard candy can also crack teeth or damage existing dental work.
• Caramel and Toffee: Sticky sweets cling to tooth surfaces and get trapped between teeth, making them particularly harmful. They’re also notorious for pulling out fillings or loosening crowns.
• Fruitcake and Dried Fruits: While they seem healthier, dried fruits are concentrated sources of sugar that stick to teeth. Nuts embedded in fruitcake can also pose a risk of chipping teeth.
• Chocolate Truffles and Fudge: The combination of sugar and fat in these treats creates a coating on teeth that bacteria love.

If you’re going to indulge, enjoy your treats with meals rather than grazing throughout the day. Your saliva production increases during meals, which helps neutralize acids and wash away food particles.

#2 Acidic Beverages Taking Their Toll

Holiday beverages are just as problematic as holiday foods. From champagne toasts to spiced cider, many seasonal drinks can erode your enamel over time.

Wine—both red and white—is particularly acidic and can soften enamel, making teeth more vulnerable to staining and decay. White wine is actually more acidic than red, though red wine is more likely to stain. Meanwhile, festive punches and cocktails often combine fruit juices, sodas, and alcohol, creating a triple threat of sugar, acid, and dehydration.

Hot chocolate and specialty coffee drinks might seem innocent, but they’re often loaded with sugar. Add in whipped cream and flavored syrups, and you’re looking at a dessert in a cup that coats your teeth in cavity-causing ingredients.

Better Beverage Choices:

• Water: The ultimate tooth-friendly drink that helps rinse away food particles and maintains saliva production.
• Cheese Plates: Pairing wine with cheese isn’t just sophisticated—cheese helps neutralize acid and provides calcium that strengthens teeth.
• Unsweetened Tea: Green or black tea contains compounds that can help suppress cavity-causing bacteria, though be mindful of potential staining.

If you do enjoy acidic or sugary drinks, use a straw to minimize contact with your teeth, and wait at least 30 minutes before brushing to avoid damaging softened enamel.

#3 Stress and Grinding Your Way Through the Season

The holidays aren’t always merry and bright. Between financial pressures, family dynamics, travel logistics, and endless to-do lists, stress levels can skyrocket during December.

Many people respond to stress by clenching or grinding their teeth, often without realizing it. This condition, called bruxism, can occur during the day or at night while you sleep. Over time, grinding wears down enamel, causes tooth sensitivity, leads to jaw pain, and can even crack or fracture teeth.

Holiday stress can also manifest as tension headaches that radiate from your jaw, or as temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders that cause clicking, popping, or difficulty opening your mouth fully.

If you notice any of these symptoms, don’t wait until after the holidays to address them. A custom nightguard can protect your teeth while you sleep, and your dental team can recommend stress-management techniques or refer you to specialists if needed.

#4 Neglecting Your Oral Hygiene Routine

Travel, late nights, houseguests, and disrupted schedules can all interfere with your normal dental care routine. You might skip flossing when you’re exhausted after a holiday party, forget to pack your toothbrush on an overnight trip, or simply fall out of your twice-daily brushing habit when your routine changes.

These seemingly small lapses can have consequences. Plaque begins forming on teeth within hours, and it only takes 24 to 72 hours for plaque to harden into tartar, which can only be removed by a dental professional. Missing even a few days of proper oral care can lead to gum inflammation, bad breath, and an increased risk of cavities.

Staying on Track:

• Set Phone Reminders: Use your phone to remind you to brush and floss, especially when your schedule is irregular.
• Keep a Travel Kit: Stock a dedicated bag with a toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss that stays in your car or travel bag.
• Make It Convenient: If you’re hosting guests, place disposable toothbrushes and floss in guest bathrooms to encourage good habits.
• Don’t Skip Appointments: If you have a dental cleaning scheduled during the holidays, keep it. Professional care is especially important when you’re indulging more than usual.

#5 Using Your Teeth as Tools

The holiday season brings countless opportunities to use your teeth inappropriately. Opening packages, tearing tags off gifts, cracking nuts, holding items while your hands are full—these moments of convenience can result in chipped, cracked, or broken teeth.

Your teeth are designed for chewing food, not opening bottles, ripping tape, or cracking shells. The forces required for these tasks can exceed what your teeth can safely handle, especially if you have existing fillings, crowns, or weakened enamel.

A dental emergency during the holidays is particularly inconvenient, as many dental offices have limited hours or are closed entirely. What seems like a time-saving shortcut can turn into a painful, expensive problem that ruins your celebration.

Keep scissors, bottle openers, and nutcrackers readily accessible during holiday activities. Take the extra few seconds to use the proper tool—your teeth will thank you.

Keep Your Smile Bright This Holiday Season in Philadelphia

The holidays should be a time of joy, not dental disasters. By being mindful of these five common risks—excessive sugar exposure, acidic beverages, stress-related grinding, neglected oral hygiene, and using your teeth as tools—you can protect your smile while still enjoying all the season has to offer.

If you’re experiencing any dental discomfort or would like to schedule a cleaning before the New Year, the team at 19th Street Dental in Philadelphia is here to help. Don’t let holiday habits compromise your oral health. Contact us today to ensure your smile stays healthy and bright throughout the season and beyond.