What do we need to do to protect our teeth during the festive period?
During the holiday season, we often spend time with family and friends and eat a lot of sweets that aren’t exactly good for our teeth.
The increasing intake of sugar and significant acid attacks from alcoholic and fizzy drinks put our dental health at risk. This is the time of the year when the level of hygiene could drop. We should be aware of the ways we can keep the dental problems at bay.
Here are some tips that could help us stay on the safe side.
1.Cut down on sugars
We need to try and decrease the amount of chocolate and sweets. However we should take into account that what matters more is the frequency of the sugary attacks. Sweets should be consumed only at meal times and not as snacks. This is because the saliva we produce more when eating naturally protects the teeth by neutralizing the acids harming the enamel of the teeth.
2.Maintain excellent oral hygiene
We appreciate how easy it is to neglect our hygiene during the holiday season. Bacteria in our mouth though never take a break. It is ever so important to stick to the good oral hygiene habits. Brushing twice a day and cleaning between teeth with floss or interdental brush is a must. You can even ask Santa to bring you new electric tooth brush.We are sure he wouldn’t mind.
Alcohol is contributes to the good mood but is also repsonsible for a variety of dental health issues. It contains acids that break down the enamel of the teeth causing sensitivity and pain. Alcohol can increase the risk of oral cancer specifically when is in a combination with tobacco. It can also reduces the saliva and makes the teeth prone to tooth decay.
It provides protection to your teeth between meals or when it may not be possible for you to brush . Chewing sugar-free gum stimulates the saliva production and as we already the saliva is a natural defence against acids. Chewing gums are also helpful with bad breath and dry mouth.
Water hydrates and cleans the mouth.That prevents the plaque from building up. The water also dilutes the harmful acids and makes the teeth less vulnerable.
Do not try to use your teeth to open boxes or bottles. Cracking nuts or ripping price tags off garments with teeth is just as harmful. By doing this you can easily chip or even fracture your teeth especially those that have already had problems in the past.
If you want to make sure that your teeth have not suffered any damage during the festive period book your examination with us on 0151 648 1974