8 Ways To Care For Your Oral Health This Christmas

Everyone likes to treat themselves over the festive period with more indulgent foods and drinks. However, this can have a significant impact on your oral health. In this post we will explore how you can take care of yourself to make sure that your mouth doesn’t cause you any problems.

Don’t Forget Your Oral Hygiene Routine

Amongst all of the parties and rushing to buy last minute presents, don’t forget to brush your teeth twice a day and floss at least once. It is understandable that after a long day, you might want to skip your normal routine. However we stress that it is extremely important to keep up with your brushing and flossing to keep gum disease and tooth decay away.

Treat Yourself Or A Loved One

Christmas is a time to be generous. Have you considered purchasing a new electric toothbrush for you or a relative? It is recommended that you change your toothbrush regularly, either if it is a manual toothbrush or an electric toothbrush head. Electric toothbrushes are more effective at consistently reducing the buildup of plaque that can lead to decay and gum disease. You and your dentist will notice the difference.

Moderation Is Key

There are plenty of festive treats to choose from, whether its a mince pie or christmas cake, but they are all high in sugar. You don’t need to completely compromise on your sweet treats this winter, however, as the main problem is the frequency that you eat them. The more times that you eat a sweet treat throughout the day, the more acid attacks that you are putting your teeth through. This weakens the enamel that coats your teeth, which leads to tooth decay. Try to minimise the number of these occasions to help protect your teeth.

Try These Foods

Cheese is good for your teeth as it helps the mouth to return to its normal pH, reducing the change of tooth decay occurring, so go ahead and try that cheeseboard. Turkey contains phosphorus which are great for fighting decay and strengthening teeth. Nuts have a great amount of fibre, folic acid, calcium and other vitamins.

Alcohol

Everyone enjoys a few glasses of wine at christmas but did you know that this can affect your teeth? White wine is very acidic, contributing to enamel erosion, putting you at higher risk of tooth decay. Also, red wine can increase the risk of your teeth becoming stained. For these reasons, it is recommended that you only drink wine at meal times.

Drink With A Straw

This is a great idea for kids (and adults too!). There are likely to be more fizzy drinks than normal at this time of year so try drinking them with a straw. This limits the amount of contact that the sugar has with your teeth.

Sugar Free Gum

Chewing gum stimulates saliva production, helping to remove any remaining plaque after eating. It also helps to keep your breath minty fresh!

Don’t Use Your Teeth As Tools

Don’t use your teeth for things they weren’t designed for such as tearing through packaging or opening beer bottles. This can damage your teeth and potentially result in a dental emergency, which is the last thing you need on Christmas Day!

Amongst the festivities, it can be difficult to keep up with your dental hygiene. We hope that these tips have helped and you can enjoy the Christmas period to the fullest! If you do struggle with a dental emergency over the festive season, or simply need some advice, don’t hesitate to call us on 01723 670500.