Top o’ the morning to you! St. Patrick’s Day is back again, and so are all of the festive foods people like to serve as part of their celebrations. Unfortunately, some of these delicious goodies aren’t the most tooth-friendly options around.
You don’t have to abstain from all fun foods to keep your teeth healthy on this special day, but making informed choices will help you have a good time without putting your smile on the line. Look out for these four St. Patty’s foods that could harm your teeth and consider swapping them for treats that both the leprechauns and your dentist will approve of.
1. Green Beer
Green beer is one of the most iconic St. Patrick’s Day goodies around, but it’s also one of the worst for your teeth. While it’s no more likely to cause lasting damage than regular beer, the green dye used to make it festive will stain your teeth green if you drink too much of it.
Instead of green beer, stick to regular beer – the lighter the better. Darker stouts may discolour your teeth the same way the green dye would.
2. Themed Treats
From shamrock-shaped cookies and cupcakes with green icing to cereal treats made with Lucky Charms, there are enough sugary treats passed around on St. Patrick’s Day to fill any pot of gold. Sweets like these always pose a threat to your oral health, but consuming them during the festivities is even riskier. Since you probably won’t get the chance to brush right away, all that sugar will stay sitting on your teeth for hours.
Keep your teeth safe by reaching for other green-themed party snacks like green pepper or green apple slices. Celery sticks and broccoli florets are particularly good choices, minimizing your sugar intake and scraping off some of the plaque on your teeth when you crunch into them.
3. Irish Soda Bread
Irish soda bread is made with white flour that quickly breaks down into sugars inside your mouth. It’s also often studded with raisins that will stick in your molars and keep feeding your oral bacteria all day long.
Irish brown bread is a tooth-friendly alternative to soda bread. This whole wheat treat is still high in carbs, but it’s made with brown flour and won’t break down as quickly.
4. Potato Dishes
Potatoes are a staple of Irish cuisine, so potato-forward dishes like colcannon and Irish nachos are popular choices for St. Patty’s celebrations. Unfortunately, potatoes are also high in starch and quickly break down into sugars inside your mouth.
Irish vegetable dishes like sauteed cabbage are better choices for your teeth, but you don’t have to give up your spuds entirely. Choose meatier dishes like shepherd’s pie or Irish stew to get your potato fix without leaving your teeth swimming in starch later.
Tip the Odds in Your Favour with Quality Dental Care
Don’t rely on luck to keep your teeth healthy this St. Partick’s Day. Visit us at Coscarella Family Dentistry for a cleaning and check-up to keep your mouth on the right track. Contact us today to book your first appointment and set yourself up for good oral health this spring.
