The holidays are a time to let yourself indulge a bit more in your favorite sweets and richer dishes. But too much indulgence can leave a lasting impact on your teeth, resulting in tooth decay, gum disease, and maybe even some lost fillings. To ensure this year's holiday sweets and treats don't come back to bite you, follow these tips to minimize the damage to your teeth.

Use only half the sugar.

When making quick breads, muffins, and even holiday cookies, consider cutting the sugar that the recipe calls for in half. Most recipes will still turn out delicious. If you're really concerned that the result won't be sweet enough, substitute Splenda (or another artificial sweetener that's designed for baking) for half the sugar in the recipe. You can use Splenda as a 1 to 1 replacement for sugar. (For instance, if the recipe calls for 1 cup or sugar, you can use ½ cup sugar and ½ cup Splenda.) If you use another sweetener, check the label to make sure the replacement instructions are clear. For some sweeteners, you'll use less than you would if you were using real sugar. For instance, you may need only ¼ cup of the sweetener in place of ½ cup of sugar.

Brush after indulging in holiday goodies.

It's common  to go to a holiday party, spend hours slowly munching on goodies, and then return home, finally brushing your teeth in the evening after hours of letting the sugars from your earlier indulgence sit on your teeth. Get into the habit of bringing your toothbrush with you this holiday season. This way, after you've enjoyed some sweet treats at a gathering, you can excuse yourself, head to the bathroom, and brush your teeth. This will also keep you from over-indulging since you will be less tempted to reach for seconds once your teeth have been cleaned.

Suck on sticky, gooey treats.

Caramels and fudge are common holiday goodies, and they sure are delicious. However, biting right into them and chewing them is not the safest way to enjoy them. Their stickiness might loosen or dislodge a filling. Instead, suck on these treats and let them dissolve slowly in your mouth.

It's also a good idea to make an appointment with your dentist for a checkup after the holiday! This way, if you've caused any damage, it will be caught and treated early on. For more information, contact local professionals like Howley & Basara Family Dentistry PC.

Share