With Christmas almost upon us, everyone is getting ready for the festivities to get under way. Food in particular, has become a much loved tradition, including Mince pies, champagne, selection boxes and tins of sweets. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable time of year, but please, spare a thought for your poor teeth!
Over Christmas Day and Boxing Day your teeth could be in harm’s way for more than 48 hours due to constant snacking, eating and drinking- that’s without mentioning New Year’s Eve!
It’s important to be extra attentive with your oral health over the Christmas period. Teeth are under attack for up to an hour after eating or drinking, and if you think about how much is consumed, and how often, your teeth don’t really get the chance to recuperate.
Here are our top tips for looking after your teeth and gums over Christmas:
1. Beware of dried fruit
Mince pies, fruit cake and Christmas pudding may be the perfect complement to a traditional Christmas dinner, but one thing they do not satisfy is your teeth. They are all laden with dried fruit, which is high in sugar. These kinds of foods stick to teeth and can cause a lot of damage.
2. Don’t ditch your routine
Teeth take a bit of a hammering over Christmas. Try to brush your teeth three times rather than the usual two to help combat the effects- don’t forget to floss!
3. Say cheese!
Cheese is great for teeth. It helps to return the mouth to its natural acid balance and helps to reduce the chances of developing tooth decay. Cheeseboards after your meal is a great idea. Even a small piece of cheese can have a good effect. The same can be said for sugar-free chewing gum (although it may not be great table manners!).
4. Use the bottle opener
We can all confess to attempting to open a bottle of beer with our teeth at some point in our lives. Please remember that your teeth aren’t tools. If your party trick is to open a bottle with your teeth, or if you regularly bite open crisp packets, you’re actually doing your teeth more harm than good. If your tooth breaks or falls out, contact us immediately so that we can do our best to save it.
5. Moderation
Moderation is definitely the key thing to remember. So that you can fully enjoy this time of year without having to compromise on what you eat and drink, bear in mind that it is not how much sugary food and drink you have, it’s how often.
Make sure that you regularly visit us here at Barnton Dental to keep you smiling throughout the year. From all of the team, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year.
With thanks to the BDHF for inspiring this blog.
