How to protect your teeth at Christmas

Christmas is a time for being with your family and friends, relaxing from work, and watching old repeats on the TV that probably should have stopped being shown years ago.

But it’s also the time when people eat foods high in sugar, such as mince pies, Christmas pudding, gingerbread men, chocolate yule logs, selection boxes, Advent calendar chocolates… the list goes on.

The problem with sugar is that it feeds the bacteria in your mouth, and in turn, this bacteria can cause dental problems such as plaque and cavities.

We hate to be humbugs, but as dentists, it’s our job to get you to look after your teeth, even during Christmas. That’s why we’ve come up with five tips to help you look after your teeth this Christmas. Read on to find out what they are.

1. Eat sugary foods in moderation

One of the best things about Christmas is the food. However, unfortunately, a lot of Christmas food is bad for our teeth.

If it’s high in sugar, like mince pies and sweets for example, then your teeth are not going to thank you for eating it. Sugar can cause cavities and tooth decay.

We’re not saying to lay off sugar entirely – we don’t want to be like the Grinch who ruins Christmas. What we do suggest however is to practice moderation.

2. Buy sugar-free

All the main supermarkets are now doing sugar-free versions of popular Christmas foods. There are sugar-free mince pies and Christmas puddings for example. What’s more, it tastes as good as the real thing. So if you want to reduce your sugar intake is Christmas, then look out for these at your next visit to the supermarket.

3. Don’t skip dentist appointments

Christmas is a busy time for everyone and that includes dentists too. If you have a dental appointment around Christmas, then please do your best to attend it, because it might not be until after the New Year until you can get another one. You don’t want to have to suffer for Christmas with a toothache.

4. Brush your teeth twice a day – including Christmas day

One of the most important things you can do to keep your teeth healthy is to brush them twice a day.

At Christmas, it’s easy to forget this. All normal routines go out the window, what with the kids being off from school and people having time off from work.

But it’s still important to keep brushing your teeth twice a day. In fact, it’s even more important to brush your teeth during Christmas, because it’s around this time that people tend to eat a lot of sugar.

5. Avoid Christmas drinks

Festive drinks from places such as Starbucks, Caffe Nero, and Pret a Manger tend to be very high in sugar. This includes drinks like eggnog, hot chocolate and mint mochas. It’s best to avoid these drinks altogether and just have water instead. Water is much better for your teeth.

That’s it for this post and for this year as well. From all of us here, we wish you and your family a Merry Christmas. We’ll see you in 2021!