--- title: Protect Your Teeth This Holiday Season description: The holiday season is upon us and no matter how you celebrate, there is likely to be a great deal of delicious food at your gathering. We know it can be ha image: https://blod-dev.vbaplans.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/adobestock_229337929-1.jpeg --- Already have an Account? LOGIN X ### Select Line of Coverage: Vision Dental ### Select One: Member Administrator Provider Lab SIGN IN ![](https://blod-dev.vbaplans.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/adobestock_229337929-1.jpeg) The holiday season is upon us and no matter how you celebrate, there is likely to be a great deal of delicious food at your gathering. We know it can be hard to resist all the delicious treats of the season, but it’s important to be conscious of the damage some foods can do to your teeth. Here’s a few things to keep in mind: **Hard candy is hard on your teeth** Foods like candy canes can be dangerous for teeth. Hard candy could cause a chipped or broken tooth. In addition, it is loaded with sugar, which lingers on your teeth while dissolving, putting your teeth at risk for decay. **Alcohol may dry out your mouth** Seasonal drinks may make your mouth more susceptible to gum disease, tooth decay and bad breath. The sugar in drinks (such as eggnog) feed bacteria already in your mouth, and the alcohol will dry your mouth out, creating the [perfect environment](http://www.colgate.com/en/us/oc/oral-health/basics/threats-to-dental-health/article/worst-candy-for-teeth-around-the-holidays-1114) for bacteria to grow. **Chewy snacks can stick around** For some, snacks like caramels, dried fruit or trail mix can be hard to pass up. These treats can be sticky, and therefore [get stuck](http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/nutrition/food-tips/9-foods-that-damage-your-teeth) in between the teeth. It’s important to drink water after eating these foods, as water can help dislodge any remaining particles. Remember, it’s okay to indulge in the sweets you like. Just be sure to maintain your [daily dental hygiene routine](https://www.adha.org/) to ensure your teeth make it through the holidays unharmed! ![TruAssure-Image_4775acc9-c2a5-4f3a-a687-b60535235380](https://static.hsstatic.net/BlogImporterAssetsUI/ex/missing-image.png) VBA dental plans are administered and underwritten by TruAssure and are offered in association with the DenteMax Plus dental network arrangement, which includes participating dentists from the United Concordia, DenteMax and Connection dental networks in all states but North Carolina, where the DenteMax Plus network arrangement includes DenteMax and Connection dental networks. ## Related Articles [![](https://blod-dev.vbaplans.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/adobestock_139764252-1.jpeg) ](https://blod-dev.vbaplans.com/test-the-minds-eye-mkii/blog/post/can-skipping-the-dentist-impact-your-overall-health) [Oral Conditions](https://blod-dev.vbaplans.com/test-the-minds-eye-mkii/tag/oral-conditions) [Hygiene and Health](https://blod-dev.vbaplans.com/test-the-minds-eye-mkii/tag/hygiene-and-health) [Tips and Tricks](https://blod-dev.vbaplans.com/test-the-minds-eye-mkii/tag/tips-and-tricks) [Dental](https://blod-dev.vbaplans.com/test-the-minds-eye-mkii/tag/dental) ### [Can Skipping the Dentist Impact Your Overall Health?](https://blod-dev.vbaplans.com/test-the-minds-eye-mkii/blog/post/can-skipping-the-dentist-impact-your-overall-health) Skipping the dentist can put you at risk for issues such as cavities or gum disease, but did you know missing those regular check-ups can also put your [overall health...](http://www.colgate.com/en/us/oc/oral-health/conditions/gum-disease/article/how-poor-dental-care-can-affect-your-overall-health-0313) [Jack Brown](https://blod-dev.vbaplans.com/test-the-minds-eye-mkii/author/jack-brown) [Read More](https://blod-dev.vbaplans.com/test-the-minds-eye-mkii/blog/post/can-skipping-the-dentist-impact-your-overall-health) [![](https://blod-dev.vbaplans.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/adobestock_305701484-1.jpeg) ](https://blod-dev.vbaplans.com/test-the-minds-eye-mkii/blog/post/tis-the-season-for-great-customer-service) [In the Community](https://blod-dev.vbaplans.com/test-the-minds-eye-mkii/tag/in-the-community) [Vision](https://blod-dev.vbaplans.com/test-the-minds-eye-mkii/tag/vision) [Dental](https://blod-dev.vbaplans.com/test-the-minds-eye-mkii/tag/dental) ### [Tis the Season for Great Customer Service](https://blod-dev.vbaplans.com/test-the-minds-eye-mkii/blog/post/tis-the-season-for-great-customer-service) Ah, the busy holiday season is upon us. Whether you’re working in the retail or service industry, it is simple to lose sight of the big picture – the reason for your... [Deana Tobiczyk](https://blod-dev.vbaplans.com/test-the-minds-eye-mkii/author/deana-tobiczyk) [Read More](https://blod-dev.vbaplans.com/test-the-minds-eye-mkii/blog/post/tis-the-season-for-great-customer-service) #### Stay in Touch Sign up to receive the latest news and information from VBA. ![VBA Plans of America logo](https://www.vbaplans.com/assets/images/VBA-Logo.png) Vision Benefits of America 400 Lydia Street, Suite 300 Carnegie, PA 15106 [1-800-432-4966](tel:8004324966) ##### [VISION](https://www.vbaplans.com/vision) ##### [DENTAL](https://www.vbaplans.com/dental) ##### [COMPANY](https://www.vbaplans.com/about-us) ##### FOLLOW © 2021 VBA ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Emily Shrader", "url" : "https://blod-dev.vbaplans.com/test-the-minds-eye-mkii/author/emily-shrader" }, "dateModified" : "2023-12-08T18:30:23.392Z", "datePublished" : "2016-11-25T05:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "Protect Your Teeth This Holiday Season", "image" : [ "https://blod-dev.vbaplans.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/adobestock_229337929-1.jpeg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blod-dev.vbaplans.com/test-the-minds-eye-mkii/blog/post/protect-your-teeth-this-holiday-season", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blod-dev.vbaplans.com/hubfs/VBA_RGB-1.png" }, "name" : "Vision Benefits of America" } } ```