Christmas is fast approaching, and it brings many delicious treats and temptations. However, mince pies and your festive tipple, together with late nights and poor dental hygiene, can take their toll on your teeth. To help you stay on track and protect your teeth during the festive season, we’ve collated our five top tips:
- Brush After Sticky Food
Christmas cake, pudding and mince pies are laden with dried fruit, which is high in sugar that can stick to your teeth. Sticky toffees and sweets eaten frequently put your teeth under constant attack.
It is therefore important to pay extra attention when brushing your teeth over the festive season. We should all be brushing our teeth twice a day, but it’s the brush before bed that’s the most important. Sparing just a few minutes at the end of your day to brush (and also floss!) your teeth will scrub away all the food that’s accumulated throughout the day.
Forgetting to do this once in a blue moon won’t have any impact on your teeth, but if it becomes more of a regular occurrence, you may have problems. The bacteria in your mouth will feast on left over morsels of food, leading to a build-up of plaque. Plaque can normally be brushed away, but if left alone it will calcify and you’ll then need to see your dentist or hygienist for a professional clean.
- Avoid Grazing
Food is EVERYWHERE at Christmas – it’s even hanging from trees! This makes it difficult to keep snacks and treats to mealtimes, and constant grazing becomes the norm. This can mean a dental disaster, particularly if those snacks are less than angelic.
By relentlessly exposing your teeth to sugary and acidic foods you’re placing them under constant attack, and they don’t get a chance to repair themselves. This leaves you more susceptible to problems such as acid erosion and an accumulation of plaque, which can eventually lead to decay.
So, make sure you give your teeth some down time over the festive season.
- Use A Bottle Opener
Teeth were never designed to open bottles, nor should they be used to open packets of crisps or nuts, to tear off labels or to cut tape when wrapping your presents! Always take a moment to find the bottle opener or scissors to prevent any damage to your teeth. If you do chip, break or crack a tooth, contact your dentist to book an appointment to fill the tooth or smooth rough edges.
- Don’t Forget the Cheeseboard!
Cheese lovers rejoice! Although it may not be the best thing for your waistline, cheese may actually protect your teeth against cavities. So rather than opting for Christmas pudding or a slice of Christmas cake – choose cheese!
Cheese is great for your teeth as it neutralises plaque acid, which helps prevent tooth decay. Eating cheese increases the amount of saliva in the mouth, which is the body’s natural way of maintaining a healthy pH level. And cheese releases chemical compounds that can form a protective layer on teeth, which protects against acids that attack teeth enamel.
- Resolve To See Your Dentist in The New Year!
If you haven’t seen your dentist or hygienist for a while, make a New Year’s resolution to book an appointment to look after your teeth and smile.
To schedule an appointment at Teeth and Smiles, simply call 020 7352 7049 and our team will be happy to help.