Christmas is already in full flow. The radios are playing festive songs, gifts were already bought weeks ago, and festive events are beginning to take place. However, the last place you want to be this Christmas is on an emergency trip to the dentist.
Well-experienced with many years of providing smile makeovers in Manchester, we want to help you get through the holiday season without worrying about emergency dental repairs or toothache. So, we explore how you can help care for your teeth during this hectic time.
Cheese Over Chocolate
Although Christmas is the season to overindulge, too much sugar can cause considerable damage to your teeth. Although you may not think the additional piece of chocolate over the day will not do any harm, the sugars contained will remain on your teeth and be absorbed by the bacteria in your mouth to create acid. This acid can lead to enamel corrosion, resulting in cavities and tooth decay if left untreated. Tooth decay is one of the leading problems we see in our clinics for dental crowns in Manchester. So, whilst settling in with a box of chocolates and a festive film may seem appealing, it can be very damaging to your teeth after a day of little treats here and there.
However, there are other options for a cosy evening on the sofa. Cheese is an excellent evening snack and one of the least harmful festive snacks for your teeth. Cheese helps reduce acid levels in your mouth, protecting your teeth from any previous sugar intake you’ve had through the day. Therefore, swap for delicious cheese and crackers instead of reaching for chocolates at the end of the day. Give your teeth a fighting chance with an alternative treat this festive season.
Skip the Snack, Not Your Routine
Throughout the end of November and the entire month of December, routines seem to disappear, and healthy habits are forgotten. However, this shouldn’t be the case for your oral hygiene routine. Although you may think skipping your evening clean can’t cause too much damage, it can. Food can start affecting your teeth as quickly as 20 minutes after you have finished eating, so it is essential to keep up with your oral hygiene routine, especially during indulgent periods.
Plaque takes 12 hours to form properly, so from the first meal of the day, your teeth are exposed to damage from the sugars and acids you intake. Whether it’s your morning coffee or the sugar in your cereal, that plaque can break down the enamel protecting your teeth by the end of the day.
If you have ever skipped your evening brush, you may have noticed the foul taste in your mouth the morning after. This taste is due to bacteria between your teeth, gums, and on your tongue. By brushing the night before, you can reduce the bacteria and help to protect your teeth from decay.
Of course, we understand that getting to work with a complete dental routine can be quite challenging after a night of indulgence. However, your teeth will be better protected. Flossing throughout the day and brushing them before bed will ensure they are kept in excellent condition once Christmas is over.
The 20-Minute Rule for Teeth
Although brushing your teeth is always advised, we recommend waiting at least 20 minutes after consuming damaging food and drink like wine before brushing. We recommend this because detrimental food softens the enamel protecting your teeth and brushing them immediately can cause abrasive damage to your teeth.
If your wish to remove any build-up between your teeth, you could use a toothpick to remove anything stuck and rinse with water. Once you have waited, you can brush away any plaque and build-up without causing damage to your teeth.
Don’t Be a Tool
Christmas can be very hectic, and everyone seems to be in a hurry to prepare for the upcoming big day. However, using your teeth as a tool because you haven’t time to find the correct instrument can cause your teeth to be vulnerable to chips, breaks and, in the worst case, complete loss of the tooth altogether.
Many patients in January come to get necessary repair treatments because they have constantly used them as bottle openers or scissors. Christmas is a typical time for removing tags of items, cutting sticky tape down to size and opening a refreshing beverage. Sometimes this must be done on the go or when the desired equipment is not usually accessible. However, using your teeth can cause costly repairs, so we recommend thinking ahead this season.
Have a pair of safety scissors in your glove box, or ensure you carry a bottle opener to every event. These devices can be found as helpful keyrings online and cost much less than our dental bridges to replace a missing tooth. They also make excellent stocking fillers, so if you have a friend or family member who uses their teeth as a tool, why not pick one up this Christmas? However, be sure to use a tape dispenser when wrapping it.
More Turkey Please
It is effortless to find food to avoid throughout Christmas. However, many festive items, including turkey, can be good for your teeth. Although many festive treats are packed with carbohydrates and sugars that can damage your teeth, turkey is full of protein. Protein helps promote healthy bone growth, which also applies to your teeth, so turkey is an excellent food to enjoy this Christmas.
Other healthy foods for your teeth which are common at Christmas also include.
Cheese. Although we have already mentioned cheese for helping to reduce acid, it is also full of protein and calcium, all beneficial elements for your teeth.
Carrots. If you are looking for a quick snack, carrot batons offer great benefits for teeth due to their hard nature, they act a bit like a toothbrush, so they are ideal for in-between meals.
Sugar-free sweets. Boiled sugar-free sweets or sugar-free gum are great for your teeth. Chewing or sucking on these can help produce more saliva, which acts as a buffer for any acid in your mouth.
Apples. Much like carrots and most raw vegetables and fruit, an apple’s texture can help dislodge food trapped between teeth and can help prevent plaque build-up.
Fish. Many types of fish are great for teeth health. For example, sardines, mackerel, tuna, and salmon all contain considerable amounts of calcium and vitamin D – all excellent vitamins for teeth health.
Strawberries. If you are worried about the staining of your teeth, strawberries contain malic acid, which helps whiten teeth. Consume with caution, however, as too much acid can have a damaging effect.
Never Ignore an Emergency
As a leading private dentist in Manchester, we understand how toothache due to damage or decay can ruin the enjoyment of your festivities. Although many surgeries have unusual hours over Christmas, that shouldn’t mean you can’t seek help when needed. Feel free to call us for any emergency. We are available throughout the Christmas and New Year seasons to see any immediate issues preventing you from having a merry Christmas and a happy new year.