The team at Valley Dental Practice would like to take this opportunity to wish a very Merry Christmas to all our patients! We would also like to thank you all for your continuous support during this year. At Valley Dental Practice we have enjoyed looking after all your dental needs and have loved creating lots of new smiles as a team!
Now that the festive season has dawned upon us, it is important to consider the effects that overindulgence can have on your oral health. Christmas is the time to enjoy festive food and drinks, but remember, it is not always the amount of sugar in your food and drink, but more importantly, how often these are consumed that will mostly impact your teeth.
We want to ensure that your new year does not begin with hefty dental bills. Here are a few tips that are worth bearing in mind to ensure that you can begin 2023with the healthiest teeth possible.
Limit Your Sugar
Whether it is tucking into too many mince pies, another tin of chocolates, a cheeky glass of wine every night or too many sugary drinks, your teeth will be the ones to suffer.
Good oral hygiene routines and regular visits to the dentist will help you maintain healthy teeth and gums. The best time to brush your teeth is 30 minutes after meals. Brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing once a day will help lessen the damage done by all the sugar.
Use a Straw
Drinking alcoholic and soft drinks through a straw will help protect your teeth from damage from the sugar and acid contained within these drinks.
Eating Sweets with a Main Meal
Eating your sweet treats and desserts straight after a main meal will help you to not overindulge in them and due to the fact that we produce more saliva when we eat meals, it will be harder for sugar to have a destructive effect on your enamel.
Don’t forget the cheese board!
After the big festive feast, be sure to save some space for the cheese board. Cheese is great for your teeth as it neutralises plaque acid, which helps prevent tooth decay. Cheese also releases chemical compounds that can form as a protective layer on your teeth which protects from acids that will attack your teeth enamel while you are distracted by all the Christmas presents!
Use a Fluoride Toothpaste.
Fluoride helps to harden your tooth enamel and reduces your risk of tooth decay.
Avoid using your teeth for anything other than chewing food!
You know when you just need that beer, and you can’t find the bottle opener anywhere. DO NOT USE YOUR TEETH! The same is true when you are wrapping presents and can’t find the scissors for the Sellotape. Your teeth are not tools, you will risk chipping or even breaking your teeth.
Clean Your Teeth and Stick to Your Routine
It is extremely easy to get distracted and forget about your dental routine, but this is the most important tip of all. You should brush your teeth twice a day for at least two minutes using a fluoride toothpaste. Inter dental cleaning will help to remove sticky plaque from in between your teeth so do that at least once a day as well!
See Your Dentist for a Regular Check-up.
We recommend that after the festive holidays, you should book an appointment with us just for a check-up to make sure your mouth remains healthy. You should also book an emergency appointment with us if you are experiencing any pain or bleeding gums in the run up to Christmas.
If you would like to book an appointment at Valley Dental Practice, contact us today on 01255 220322.
