Can you believe it is that time of year again, with Christmas fast approaching and the inevitable increase in sweet foods and chocolate consumption, the team at Valley Dental Practice have 5 top tips to protect your teeth from ho-ho-holes and avoid festive dental emergencies.
1. Consider including sugar free sweets
The bacteria in your mouth that cause tooth decay love sugar and every time you eat sugary foods; the bacteria produce acids that can cause cavities. By picking sugar free sweets you are reducing the food available for the bacteria. Can’t bear to part with those sugary treats, try to keep them for mealtimes to reduce the damage caused to teeth.
2. Drink acidic and carbonated drinks and fruit juice through a straw
This helps to reduce the amount of time the liquid is in contact with your teeth, reducing the risk of acid erosion and tooth decay.
3. 3. Chew sugar free gum following meals
By chewing a piece of sugar free gum for 20 minutes after a meal, you will produce extra saliva which is the mouth’s natural defence to the acid produced by plaque bacteria reacting with the sugars in our food and drink. By chewing gum your mouth’s pH level will return more quickly to its stable level reducing the time the acid has to affect your tooth enamel.
4. Don’t use your teeth as tools
Many people end up damaging their teeth as they use them to tear Sellotape, open beer bottles or crack open nuts. Always ensure that you have a pair of scissors, bottle opener and a nut cracker handy, or you may be asking your dentist for a new set of teeth, come January.
5. Don’t forget your oral hygiene routine!
During the festivities, it is very easy for your regular oral hygiene routine to go awry! This Christmas be sure to brush your teeth at least twice a day using a fluoride toothpaste and use interdental aids to clean between your teeth once a day.
All the team at Valley Dental Practice would like to wish our patients a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We look forward to seeing you all in the new year and should you need anything over the festive period do not hesitate to contact the surgery on 01255 220322.
