Mmmmmmm, Christmas: 'tis the season of overindulgence! No matter how well we eat year round, many of us tend to leave room for less healthy fare during the holidays. In moderation, that's totally fine--except a minute on your lips could last longer on your teeth, as many party favorites on the buffet table and at the bar can leave your smile with stains.

That doesn't mean you can't still treat yourself during the holidays (before the reality of New Year's resolutions set in). You just need to know which foods and drinks have the most stain-causing potential, so you can limit your intake and treat stains before they set in. We spoke with dentists Jeff Golub-Evans, D.D.S., the director of the New York Center for Cosmetic Dentistry, and Irwin Smigel, D.D.S., President of the American Society for Dental Aesthetics and Inventor of Supersmile® Intelligent Smile Care, about the most common stain offenders you'll find at holiday parties. Some--as well as their tips for treating and avoiding stains--may surprise you!

The Stain Offenders

Wine: Ok, so this one's not that surprising. Red wine can stain after just a few sips, leaving your teeth (and lips) with a purple tint. What is shocking, though, is that even white wine and champagne aren't safe: "Many people don't know that white wine can actually stain teeth worse than red wine as white wine is generally more acidic," says Smigel. This high acidity can erode teeth, leaving them more susceptible to staining. That means anything you eat or drink while sipping Chardonnay is more likely to leave its mark on your teeth.

Our suggestion: Carry some Wine Wipes ($6.95, winewipes.com) in your bag to quickly clear away stains. You should also "always follow dark liquids with water or sparkling water," according to Golub-Evans, and the same advice goes for acidic drinks, too.

Cheese and Crackers: One of the worst food and drink combinations for teeth, according to Golub-Evans is cheese and crackers with wine. "The sticky cheese and crackers attach to your teeth, and the red wine stains and darkens them."

Our suggestion: Your best bet is to follow a cheese course with crisp, raw veggies like carrot sticks and broccoli. Munching these crunchy foods helps clear away some of the stickiness and reduces any of the plaque build-up that can begin to form on teeth after meals.

Cranberry Sauce: Dark fruits are full of antioxidants, which is why they're so good for you. Their dark color, though, makes them problematic for teeth. Foods like cranberry sauce and berry pies are also major stainers, according to Golub-Evans, as we tend to keep them in our mouths for longer periods of time instead of simply swallowing them like we would cranberry juice or a berry liquere.

Our suggestion: Stash a tiny toothbrush in your purse and touch up teeth after eating anything that's berry sweet and berry staining.

Coffee and Tea: Both of these beverages are dark in color and acidic, so they not only cause stains, they also promote them when sipped in combination with other stain-causing consumables (hello, berry pie!).

Our suggestion: "Put whole milk in coffee or tea," suggests Golub-Evans, as it will help lighten your drink's color so it's less able to leave stains.

Megan O'Neill is Beauty Editor at EndlessBeauty.com