How to keep your teeth healthy this Christmas
16 December 2016
Mince pies, Chocolate Orange, gingerbread houses, giant boxes of chocolates, Christmas pudding… the list is endless!
It’s Christmas time and that means a whole range of seasonal sweet treats are available. From November onwards supermarkets have been stacked with delectable delights. Our teeth face an onslaught of sugar as we creep ever-closer to the pinnacle of our Christmas and New Year celebrations.
At Redmires Dental Care we love to celebrate Christmas but we also want everyone to be able to have fun without doing lasting damage to their teeth.
As a result, we’ve put together a few pointers that can help you keep your teeth healthy and clean this Christmas.
1. Keep your teeth brushing routine
The children are off school and you don’t need to go to your usual 9-to-5 workplace. The Christmas TV schedule or family games might keep you up later than usual. Your normal routine might be out of sync but it’s vital that you keep your usual teeth brushing routine. Brush your teeth twice a day in the morning and evening.
2. Brush your teeth for two minutes
It should take a full two minutes to brush your teeth yet most people don’t come close to putting in the effort to ensure your teeth are
clean. Use these two minutes to clean all the surfaces of your teeth – inside, outside and the chewing surfaces. Dental floss or interdental brushes can also help clean between the teeth.
3. Try not to overeat sugary snacks
During the festive season all restraint can get thrown out of the window. Whilst it’s hard for the best of us to maintain a diet throughout the season, it’s important for our teeth to not overconsume sugary items. It’s lovely to have a treat but watch out for the Christmas selection boxes, the flowing bottles of wine and the dried fruits found in mince pies, Christmas cake and Christmas pudding! High sugar products can cause the plaque on your teeth to produce acids which break down enamel. As a result, the best time to eat sugary snacks is during meal times as this limits the number of sugary attacks on your teeth.
4. Avoid the temptation to snack before bed
Yes, we know there’s a box of chocolates open on the table but try to avoid having a snack directly before you go to bed. Sugary or acidic foods naturally weaken enamel. If you brush your teeth up to an hour after eating these foods, you can end up brushing away miniscule particles of enamel. Not the Christmas present you were hoping for!
5. Ask Santa Claus for a new toothbrush
Did you know that your toothbrush needs replacing every three months? Christmas is a great time to ensure the whole family has a brand new toothbrush. A new toothbrush is a fantastic and vital stocking stuffer!
6. Mouthwash can help – but not straight after you’ve brushed your teeth!
With all these extra sugars flying about you may tempt you to take up using a mouthwash. However, a common mistake that many people make is using a mouthwash straight after brushing your teeth. This washes away the concentrated fluoride on your teeth. Wait for at least 30 minutes before using mouthwash and don’t eat or drink anything for half an hour afterwards!
7. Give your mouth a gift this Christmas
Regular visits to the dentist are important. If you have any concerns about your teeth or how to look after them this Christmas, then please get in touch. Why not book a check-up for the New Year? We care about your smile and go the extra mile to keep it healthy and bright. We have recently written about our 15-point healthy mouth check, explaining how we always provide the best dental care for you and your teeth.