Christmas time is known as a period of indulgence, delicious food, sweet treats and the odd sparkling drink (or two). It’s a time of year when we can forget our daily stresses and enjoy time spent with friends and family.
So, it’s no wonder that dental care may be the last thing on anyone’s mind at Christmas. However, a few days of eating and drinking to our hearts content can have a lasting impact on our teeth and gums.
Here is our advice and top tips for looking after your teeth, whilst still enjoying all your favourite Christmas treats and traditions.
- Savour your treats in one sitting
- Alternate Prosecco with water
- Give sticky toffee and treats a miss
- Use scissors for tape, not your teeth
- Bottles are for openers — not teeth
- And of course, don’t forget to brush
Eat Treats in One Sitting
We’re dentists, not Scrooges. We know you will want to eat more chocolate, crisps and other sweet treats than we would normally not recommend. Whilst the Christmas season can feel like a continuous grazing fest for many of us, it’s better for your teeth to eat all your chocolate in one go.
Whilst this may feel counterintuitive, the constant sugar intake of snacking all day will do more harm to your teeth than eating it all in one go. This is because each time you eat sugar (no matter how much of it) the bacteria in your mouth will produce acid that causes tooth decay.
So, consider this your permission to eat all your sweet treats in one go!
Drink Water After Drinking Prosecco
Who doesn’t enjoy a glass or two of bubbly at Christmas? It’s a time for celebration after all. But what you may not know is that Prosecco is actually one of the biggest risks to your teeth.
In comparison to other drinks, Prosecco is really high in acid, sugar and alcohol and these can wear away at the surface of your teeth and cause damage to the enamel. To counteract the effects, try drinking in moderation, sip through a straw if you can and have a glass of water after each glass (it will help with the hangover too!)
Avoid Toffee and Sticky treats
Whilst we have just given you permission to binge on your favourite sweet treats, you may want to avoid toffee and other chewy sweets, especially if you have dental restorations such as fillings or crowns. This is because they can get stuck to and pull on the filling, causing it to become loose or dislodged. Stick to softer sweets or chocolate instead.
Use Scissors for Tape, Not your Teeth
Everyone knows about the last-minute dash to wrap everyone’s Christmas presents. Especially if you have young kids, you might find yourself up late at night on Christmas Eve, surrounded by toys and rapidly wrapping the gifts and tearing off the Sellotape with your teeth. However, this is a big no-no for your oral health.
Ripping tape with your teeth puts a huge pressure on the edges of your teeth and can lead to a number of issues, including worn or cracked teeth and dislodging crowns, veneers and fillings. So, do your teeth a favour and use scissors or a tape dispenser instead.
Don’t Open Bottles With your Teeth
The same advice for tape goes for bottles as well. It may be your favourite party trick, but you should never ever open bottles with your teeth. Make sure to use a bottle opener instead, as nothing will ruin Christmas more than a trip to an emergency dentist.
Don’t Forget to Brush your Teeth
Last but not least, don’t forget to brush your teeth. Christmas is a busy time of year and a lot of our daily routines go out the window but make sure your oral health routine isn’t one of them.
Make sure you are brushing your teeth twice a day, once in the morning and once before you go to bed. Flossing is important, especially if you think any food may have got stuck in your teeth. Doing both of these simple things is the easiest way to look after your teeth at Christmas and all year round.
If you’re worried about anything mentioned in this article or think you may have overdone it on the sweets and Prosecco front, you can book a quick check up with The Kensington Dentist in the new year.
Get in touch today — our friendly dentists and hygienists will help get your smile looking its cleanest and brightest again.