Many of us celebrating the festive season will be overdosing on Christmas cake, toffees, chocolate, and fizzy drinks, but what many of us don’t realise is that the risk of future tooth decay we face is highly likely. This is because of the high sugar content in all of our favourite party foods and treats.
At Christmas time, nearly all of us eat more sugary snacks and a lot more frequently than at any other time of the year. The continuous dosage we indulge in means the teeth are under constant attack, and the saliva in our mouths does not get a chance to neutralise the acid from the sugar, leading to the start of tooth decay for many of us.
Some tips to prevent tooth decay while enjoying the festive period can be found below:
- Try to eat most of the sweet snacks in one sitting rather than continually grazing on them throughout the day.
- at some cheese or dairy products immediately after the snacks or fizzy drinks, as this will neutralise acid and maintain the normal pH level in the mouth.
- Keep fizzy drinks to a minimum; try opting for diluted or sugar-free drinks as much as possible.
- Savoury snacks have less sugar content, meaning they are less harmful to the teeth, i.e., crisps, nuts, crackers, and breadsticks.
- Be vigilant when it comes to cleaning the teeth and make more of an effort to use interdental aids, i.e., floss and teepee brushes, as there will be less food stagnating in between the teeth for long periods of the day.
- Don’t brush the teeth immediately after snacking; leave them for up to 30 minutes to allow the saliva to carry out the natural remineralization process.
All of the staff at Creative Smiles would like to wish their patients a very happy Christmas and a wonderful new year!