Christmas is just around the corner, and here at Guiney Dental Clinic, we’re looking forward to some festive fun! At Christmas, we tend to eat less healthily and do a lot more snacking than we do throughout the year. This has an impact on our bodies, but it also affects our teeth, and it’s great to know that following these top tips will help us to enjoy our seasonal favourites without causing damage to our smiles.
Many of the foods we eat at Christmas are richer than our usual diet, and it’s important to be aware of all the hidden sugars lurking in foods like mince pies and Christmas cake. It’s possible to make the most of the Christmas treats and still take care of our dental health, so we can have the best of both worlds this year. Read on for our top tips on protecting your teeth throughout the festive season, and you’ll ensure that your teeth look great on every occasion!
Five Tips For A Good Smile At Christmas:
Studies have shown that, on meeting someone, a good smile is one of the first features that is noticed. You can keep yours looking good despite Christmas indulgences when you:
1. Remember to pack your toothbrush! It’s easy to run out of time for self care at Christmas, but it’s vital to take the time to maintain your dental health care routine. Remember to brush your teeth twice a day, for at least two minutes, and to floss daily to reduce your risk of tooth decay. We do not recommend brushing immediately after you eat, but waiting 30 minutes, as this helps to avoid damage to the enamel on the teeth. It’s likely that you’ll be consuming more sugar than usual over the Christmas period, so it’s more important than ever to take care of your teeth. If you’re hosting family or friends this Christmas, perhaps it would be useful to have a few spare toothbrushes in the cupboard in case anyone forgets theirs – and remember to pack yours if you’re travelling away from home! Kids may be the most likely to forget to brush their teeth in all the excitement, so it can be a good idea to set reminders to ensure that they stick to their normal dental care routine regardless.
2. Drink water. Throughout the Christmas period, you’ll probably eat richer foods and drink more alcohol than you usually do. If you want to enjoy the festive indulgences without feeling worse for wear, ensure that you drink water throughout each day to help flush out the toxins and dilute the acids in your mouth that attack your teeth after you eat. Fizzy drinks will add a lot of sugar to your daily intake, and swapping these for water will really benefit your health and your teeth. Tea, coffee, red wine and white wine are particularly renowned for staining teeth, so experts advise consuming these with a meal and brushing well 30 minutes later. Keeping a cup of tea or a glass of wine on the go for hours will mean that the sugars and tannins are sitting on your teeth for much longer, which will increase the likelihood of discolouration and plaque.
3. Avoid snacking. Did you know that your teeth will sustain much more damage from snacking throughout the day than from enjoying a few sweet treats after a meal? This is because saliva production increases when eating a meal, and this helps to wash away the sugary food particles which can cause plaque and decay. It’s also a great idea to stick to your regular mealtimes wherever possible, as skipping a meal in favour of eating a tin of seasonal biscuits, for example, will not do your teeth any favours!
4. Include tooth-friendly foods in your diet. Eating cheese after meals or snacks is often recommended as a good way to protect against tooth de-cay. This is because cheese can help to restore the natural ph balance in the mouth, which will help to avoid the damage caused by acids. This is a great reason to tuck into the cheeseboard after your meal, and even a small piece of cheese can have a beneficial effect on your teeth.
5. Beware of hidden sugars. Chocolate and sweet consumption generally goes up at Christmas, but the hidden sugars in some seasonal foods can cause just as much damage to your teeth. The dried fruit in mince pies and Christmas cake, for example, is very sugary, and this can cause staining and plaque if it is allowed to sit on your teeth for hours. It is a good idea to limit your intake, and to enjoy a slice of cake or a mince pie after your meal rather than eating it on its own. This will allow the increased saliva in your mouth to combat the extra sugars, and will help to protect the enamel on your teeth from damage.
Cosmetic Dentistry Solutions: A Great Smile For Christmas
If you’ve never thought about improving your smile, you may be surprised to hear that tooth whitening is a popular Christmas gift! You could treat yourself if you fancy popping in for a whitening treatment so that you can look your best throughout the party season, or pop it on your Christmas list if you’d like to start the new year with more confidence and a brighter smile.
Here at Guiney Dental, we can help you to get the smile you want. From porcelain veneers to hidden braces, we have solutions to suit everyone and we will work with you to achieve the look you want. If your teeth are crooked, you may find that invisible braces are the perfect option for you, and if you need help to fill gaps in your mouth, we can talk you through the possibilities. Modern solutions such as tooth implants and bridges are far removed from the traditional dentures, and we can offer payment plans to ensure that our treatments are accessible to everyone.
If you just want to brighten your smile for Christmas, you can book our bleaching/teeth whitening service, and this will ensure that your teeth look great when it matters! Our dentists and dental hygienists will be happy to talk to you about your situation, and to help you to get the look you want this year.
Visit Your Dentist In Ballincollig
As Christmas approaches, you may already be making plans for the year ahead. Make this the year that you prioritise your teeth! If you’ve been putting off dental work or waiting for the right time to make an appointment, call us today and start looking and feeling better from your very first appointment.
We know how important good teeth can be to your appearance, and your dental health can also have a big impact on your general health, too. Poor dental health is associated with many serious health concerns, and taking care of your teeth and gums is a very important way to protect yourself as you age.
We would love to welcome you to Guiney Dental Clinic, where our professional team of dentists and dental hygienists can help you and your family with emergency or routine dental care. A good dentist is not just for Christmas, but it’s a great time to start taking care of your teeth! To make an appointment, call the Guiney Dental Practice today on 021-481 0535.