Top tips for healthy teeth this festive season
With Christmas looming large on the horizon, we are all starting to get ready for the festivities. But don’t forget to spare a thought for your teeth as mince pies, Christmas cake, chocolates and sweets make their way into our festive diets.
It is very important to be extra vigilant with your oral health over the festive period, if you want to avoid a dental visit in January. Remember your teeth are under attack from the sugars and acids in our foods for up to an hour every time you eat or drink. With regular snacking during the festivities this may mean that your teeth never really get a chance to recover.
So, the team at The Dental Studio have come up with five top tips to keep your teeth looking their best into 2018.
- Beware dried fruits
During the drying process the sugars present in the fruits are concentrated. This means that a holiday favourite such as dates can contain as much as 63g of sugar in every 100g, which can be more than is in some chocolate bars! This is true whether they are eaten individually or in mince pies, Christmas cake or pudding. Dried fruits will provide sugars for the bacteria in your mouth to feed on causing decay and cavities and due to the way, they stick to teeth, they can provide a source of food for many hours after you have eaten them.
- Teeth are not tools
Many people end up damaging their teeth as they use them to tear Sellotape, open beer bottles or crack open nuts. Always ensure that you have a pair of scissors, bottle opener and a nut cracker handy, or you may be asking your dentist for a new set of teeth, come January.
- Say cheese
Cheese is great for teeth. It helps to return the mouth to its natural pH balance and reduces the risks of tooth decay. That’s why an end of dinner cheeseboard is a great idea. Sugar free chewing gum can have the same effect, although this is best left until you get down from the table!
- Don’t forget your oral hygiene
It is very easy on busy days to forgo your usual routine and just give your teeth a cursory brush before bed. Teeth take a bit of a hammering, with all the chocolates, sugary foods and drinks and alcohol consumed over the festive period so be sure to take the time to:
- Brush your teeth for at least 2 minutes, twice a day using a fluoride toothpaste
- Use interdental cleaning aids daily to clean areas brushing alone misses
- Moderation in all things
Moderation is definitely the most important thing to remember. Bear in mind that it is not the quantity of sugary food and drink you have, but how often you have them that will affect your oral health. Try to limit sugary foods and drinks to mealtimes wherever possible and drink drinks through a straw to reduce the time the liquid is in contact with your teeth.
Should you have a dental emergency over the festive period do not hesitate to contact the surgery on 01206 845891 and the answerphone will provide details of how to contact the on duty dentist. All the team at The Dental Studio would like to wish our patients a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, we look forward to seeing you all in 2018.
