The holiday season is a time to enjoy the company of your loved ones and have delicious meals. During these celebrations, having drinks like eggnog or mulled wine creates an even cozier atmosphere—but they’re also packed with tooth-damaging sugar. 

This doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy having a few drinks during the holidays, however. By turning to low-sugar holiday drinks, you can keep the celebrations fun and your teeth safe. 

The effects of sugar and staining beverages on teeth.

All Newport Beach dentists will tell you the same thing: sugary drinks wreak havoc on your teeth. You have bacteria in your mouth that feed off these sugars, creating acids that harm your tooth enamel. 

Your tooth enamel is there to protect the tooth as you chew and keep bacteria out. When the enamel is weakened, it allows bacteria in. These bacteria then start creating cavities. 

Drinks like red wine and dark-colored cocktails also leave stains on your enamel. Wine and other alcoholic drinks are acidic, and acids wear away at your enamel as well, making your teeth porous. Porous teeth absorb stains and stop looking as white as you want them to be. 

By turning to low-sugar holiday drinks and options that don’t stain your teeth, you don’t have to stress about your dental health. You can just focus on enjoying yourself. 

5 Unique Cocktail and Mocktail Holiday Drink Recipes

Try one or a couple of the top tooth-friendly holiday beverages. 

1. Rosemary Gin Fizz

This is one of the lightest tooth-friendly holiday beverages, boasting only a bit of honey but packing a lot of flavor. 

• One lemon, juiced
• ½ teaspoon honey
• 1 ½ ounces gin 
• 3 ounces club soda

Mix a few sprigs of rosemary, the juice of one lemon, and the teaspoon of honey together. Fill a glass with ice and then pour in the mixture, gin, and club soda. 

2. Apple Cider Moscow Mule

Put a spin on a favorite, so you can avoid the huge amounts of sugar that a traditional mule offers. 

• 2 ounces vodka
• 2 ounces apple cider
• One lime, juiced
• Cinnamon
• Ginger beer, to taste

For this option, take your copper mug and add vodka, apple cider, and the juice of one lime. Fill the mug with ice and add cinnamon on top. If you like ginger beer, add a bit. 

3. Champagne and St. Germain

Another of the most delicious holiday drink recipes for dental health is a simple combination of St. Germain and champagne or dry sparkling wine. You can use a strawberry for a garnish. Mix to taste. 

4. Grapefruit Mocktail

If you’d rather go for a mocktail that is low in sugar, try this option.

• ½ ounce simple syrup
• 2 ounces grapefruit juice
• One lime, juiced
• Sparkling water, to taste

Mix the simple syrup (plain, or whatever flavor you prefer), the lime juice, and the grapefruit juice. Pour it over a lot of ice and top it with sparkling water. 

5. Tom Collins Mocktail

Create a non-alcoholic version of this classic with:

• One ounce simple syrup
• Botanical spirit, to taste
• Club soda, to taste
• One lemon, juiced

Add the lemon juice, simple syrup, and botanical spirit to a glass full of ice. Top with club soda. 

Taking care of your teeth during the holidays.

Choosing low-sugar holiday drinks is just one step you can take to help maintain your oral health as you navigate the holidays. You want to remember to brush your teeth at least twice a day, and if you’re unable to avoid having a sugary drink or one that might stain your teeth, rinse your mouth right after. Don’t forget to floss once a day to remove any stray food particles. 

Staying hydrated is essential at all times, but it’s crucial when you’re going from one celebration to another and potentially drinking alcohol. If you’re dehydrated, your mouth won’t have the amount of saliva you need to keep your teeth and oral structures healthy. 

Take a water bottle with you as you head out to a party. Chewing sugar-free gum is another excellent way of promoting saliva production.

Once the holidays are over, schedule an appointment with your dentist. It can be helpful to get a cleaning or whitening and check for any potential cavities before they get worse.  

Have a safe and healthy holiday season.

Having fun and maintaining your oral health don’t have to be two contradictory ideas. By making smarter choices and trying low-sugar holiday drinks, you don’t have to worry about bacteria and your enamel. If you have concerns about your oral health, you can turn to one of the best Newport Beach dentists by visiting Luminous Smiles. We provide general dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, and restorative dentistry services. Schedule an appointment today by calling Luminous Smiles to check how your teeth are doing.