Be Kind to Your Teeth This Christmas

Be kind to your teeth this Christmas

It’s time to be kind to your teeth this Christmas. Many of our patients ask ‘What are tooth friendly holiday snacks?’ or ‘How do I look after my teeth at Christmas’. You may even be wondering how you can lower your sugar intake during your Christmas break this year.

The team at Together Dental have shared their tips and tricks to make sure your teeth and gums are in tip-top condition throughout the holidays. Here is their tooth friendly advice for the festive season.

Be aware of your sugar intake

We understand that at Christmas time, sugar is almost unavoidable. We won’t tell you to completely avoid those treats, but we do advise that you keep an eye on how much sugar you and your family are consuming throughout the holidays.

With sugar intake higher around the festive season, it means that your teeth will be constantly exposed to different acids, increasing your risk of damage to your tooth enamel. Food and beverages that are high in acids wear away the tooth enamel that protects your teeth. This is a process known as tooth erosion.

Over exposure to sugars over time can cause tooth erosion, which can ultimately lead to cavities and infections. If you have children, take extra care in their sugar intake and make sure they brush their teeth before bedtime.

Keep an eye on your fillings

Chewy, sticky sweets such as toffee, hard caramels and licorice can be tough on the teeth, especially if you have fillings to look out for. These sticky sweets and foods can stick to your fillings, creating a powerful suction that can actually pull your fillings loose.

If you love sweet treats at Christmas, choose low sugar chocolate or boiled sweets, as these are a less damaging alternative. Just remember not to bite down on them, let them melt in your mouth!

Keep on top of your oral hygiene at home

With many of us taking a break around Christmas, you can easily get distracted and fall out of routine when it comes to brushing and flossing. Many people admit that they brush their teeth just once a day around the holiday season.

Remember to brush your teeth twice a day and floss at least once per day. Flossing after your Christmas dinner would be a great way to remove any leftover food particles that could linger in between your teeth for the rest of the day.

Don’t forget to make sure you and your family brush their teeth before bed. Brushing before bed prevents bad breath, gum disease and more advanced gum disease known as Gingivitis.

Limit your alcohol intake

As much as we love to celebrate, increased alcohol intake can be one of the factors leading to tooth damage. Many festive drinks will contain a larger amount of sugar, especially drinks that are mixed with fizzy mixers. Drinking alcohol mixed with sugary fizz increased the amount of acid in the mouth, potentially leading to tooth erosion.

If you are looking at watching your alcohol intake this season, try opting for low-sugar options such as low-calorie beers, soft drinks and clear spirits like gin or vodka.

Book a dental check-up

Make a New Year’s resolution to book in a check-up at your local Together Dental practice. Our dentists will be on hand to check over your mouth and teeth, and give you the best advice to keep your oral health in the best condition possible.  

Book a hygiene treatment

Step into the new year with a fresh mouth and fresh breath. Our dental hygienists can remove any tartar or plaque build-up, as well as any stains that may have built up from tea, coffee and red wine over the holidays.

Dental Hygienists Laraine Wright and Michelle Pask from Together Dental Clacton

Our dental hygienists are trained to improve and maintain healthy teeth and gums with their professional advice and preventative treatments. We recommend seeing a hygienist once every six months to keep on top of your oral health. Our team will give you a smile to be proud of.

Call us on 0333 032 9339 to book in a check-up or hygiene appointment at your nearest practice.

The team at Together Dental hope you have a fantastic Christmas.