How to Keep Your Teeth Healthy This Christmas

Christmas is one of the busiest times of year and while all the chocolate treats, roast turkey, and cookies are delicious, they can have a negative effect on your teeth. Your oral health is very likely to take a hit over the Christmas season, particularly if you don’t have a dental check up booked in. As dental experts, we thought we’d list just a few simple steps you can take to keep oral health damage to a minimum.

Give Your Teeth Time to Recover

One of the things we all enjoy the most on Christmas Day is grazing all day long. A chocolate bar here, cookies there, a glass of wine, and a mince pie, and maybe even a leftover turkey sandwich. However, grazing throughout the day can make your teeth more vulnerable to tooth decay because you are exposing them to sugar multiple times, without giving them the opportunity to recover.

Do your best to eat at normal meal times and avoid snacking in between so that your teeth have time to recover from any sugar or alcohol intake. This is the first step in keeping tooth decay at bay.

Stick to an Oral Health Routine

Christmas Day is often when people neglect their oral health routines the most. The constant snacks, the high quantities of sugary sweets, and the late-night bedtime, the whole day can really disrupt your oral health routine. And, let’s face it, brushing your teeth, flossing, and using mouthwash at the end of Christmas Day is often the last thing on your mind. But you mustn’t forget to brush your teeth!

However, as with many things in life, having a routine is extremely beneficial and oral health is just the same. Be sure you maintain your regular teeth cleaning routine: brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, don’t forget to floss, and always use mouthwash.

Top tip: Always wait for at least 20 minutes after your last snack or glass of wine before brushing your teeth.

Finish Your Snacking with Cheese

Everyone enjoys cheese and crackers – particularly a platter-full on Christmas Day. And there’s no need to worry about teeth health because cheese is one of the few festive indulgences you can enjoy without damaging your oral health. Cheese is ideal for reducing acid levels in your mouth after eating other festive treats, helping protect your teeth. And what’s best of all, it tastes great too!

Be Mindful of the ‘Prosecco Smile’

If you love enjoying a bit of bubbly on Christmas Day, you need to know that alcoholic drinks such as Prosecco a very acidic. Too much bubbly can be bad news for your teeth – leading to a condition many people in dentistry refer to as ‘the prosecco smile’. The more you drink, coupled with the high sugar content, the worse it is for your teeth!

So, where possible, one way to enjoy a few glasses of bubbly at Christmas without damaging your teeth is by adding ice. Adding ice cubes into your drink can help reduce damage to your teeth as not only does ice dilute your drink, it also reduces the level of acid. Another great tip is to drink through a straw so that the drink doesn’t wash over your teeth.

Drink Water Regularly Throughout the Day

Drinking water regularly is important for your total health, but it can also be beneficial for maintaining good oral health during the festive season. Drinking water before and after eating helps wash away any sugar, harmful acids, and food particles that may be remaining in your mouth. This simple method can help maintain oral health and reduce the likelihood of oral health problems.

Don’t Snack Before Bed

Christmas celebrations often mean late nights. And while it can be extremely tempting to eat or drink or perhaps even open that remaining box of chocolates on the table, eating sugary treats right before bed can weaken tooth enamel. So, it’s best to avoid the temptation to snack before bed so that your oral help is well-maintained.

Avoid Using Your Teeth

The majority of dental accidents that occur at Christmas are caused by people using their teeth for opening boxes, cutting cellotape, and opening bottles. Tearing open packaging with your teeth can lead to damage, such as cracks and chips, bleeding gums, and even painful breaks. To avoid an emergency trip to the dentist, don’t use your teeth for jobs that you should use scissors or bottle openers for.

Don’t Use Makeshift Toothpicks

Have you ever had something stuck in your teeth? The temptation is often to attempt picking it out with a makeshift toothpick. Using something other than dental floss to clear out food from your teeth can be extremely damaging. Poking at your teeth and gums with sharp improvised tools can cause to bleeding gums and tooth injuries, so it is best to avoid it where possible. If you get something stuck in your teeth, use floss to clear it out to avoid any dental problems.

Treat Your Mouth to Regular Dental Check-Ups

Give your mouth the gift of regular dental check-ups this Christmas. Regular dental visits are extremely important over the Christmas season as they ensure your teeth are healthy and bright all year long. What’s more, regular check-ups give you the chance to share any concerns you may have about your oral hygiene. Book Your Dental Appointment Today and keep your teeth healthy this Christmas.