Santa isn’t the only one who knows if you’ve been naughty or nice. Your dentist has a list and she’s checkin’ it twice.

The season of sweets is upon us. Traditional treats like popcorn balls, peanut brittle and candy canes can impact more than just waistlines. These sugary snacks can also weaken and damage your teeth.

“Absolutely, we see more patients at Christmas time,” said Dr. Alexis LaRose, owner of Kootenai Family Dental. “People are eating more hard and sticky things than they usually do. It’s not uncommon for large silver fillings to come apart, or for crowns to be pulled from teeth. We also see a lot of teeth that simply break off.”

Sugar is the Grinch to your teeth. Food and beverages can be loaded with more sugar than you realize. For example, eggnog contains 20 grams (5 teaspoons) of sugar. Apple cider with caramel sauce and whipped cream can have more than 65 grams (16 teaspoons).

One standard sized candy cane can have 10 grams of sugar. Combine that with some fudge, a handful of chocolate covered nuts and a few Christmas cookies and it’s a sugar bomb going off in your mouth. The sugar from these things literally eats away at your healthy teeth. It's always important to brush and floss after every meal, but even more so during the holidays.

“It’s the all day snacking and sipping that creates the perfect environment for cavities to appear,” said Dr. LaRose. “The pH levels in the mouth are thrown out of balance by the sugary foods or drinks. It takes an hour for the saliva to return to normal level after eating or drinking. So, if you’re grazing, your mouth is going to have much more acidity in it. This creates a breeding ground for bacteria and tooth decay, which leads to cavities. Water is the only thing that can be safely sipped throughout the day. Brushing your teeth, chewing sugar free gum, or a variety of products from your dentist can help get the pH of your mouth back to normal levels.”

Sweets aren’t the only contributing factor to damaged teeth. Holiday stress plays a role, too. People tend to clench down and grind their teeth through the last-minute shopping and out-of-town relatives coming for a Christmas visit then staying too long.

The most obvious signs of excessive grinding - bruxism - are chipped or cracked teeth, but there are other symptoms.

“Indicators include people who wake up with headaches, suffer migraines, or feel pain in their jaws or the muscles around the jaw,” Dr. LaRose said. “I look for wear patterns on the teeth and divots in the teeth right next to the gum line. Increased wear on your teeth is never a good thing. Over time, grinding and clenching can result in fractures of the teeth. This leads to more extensive dental treatments, such as crowns, root canals and even extractions.”

So try to relax. It’s also a good time to get a night guard fitted by your dentist. These guards prevent people from grinding their teeth while they’re asleep.

Regular cleanings and checkups will help detect small problems before they turn critical on Christmas Eve. Dr. LaRose said it has been her experience that when teeth finally break, it can be from something as benign as eating a banana, pudding, or a burrito.

“The hard crunchy things around the holidays actually start the problem,” she said. “The straw that breaks the camel’s back is something pretty soft.”

Unfortunately, dental emergencies tend to happen on weekends and in the evening hours — or on Christmas morning. While routine checkups can help avoid emergencies at inopportune times, there’s really no good time for tooth pain.

“We have an emergency line for our patients,” said Dr. LaRose. “Usually, these emergencies don’t actually hurt, but it can be stressful and upsetting. We treat our patients like family, give us a call and our expert staff will work with you to minimalize the impact on you and your family!”