Avoid a Dental Disaster this Christmas

Christmas is coming and all we can think about is overindulging in.. well, everything but especially the copious amount of food and drink on offer.

While there is still time let’s spare a thought for our teeth and general oral hygiene, which will have to deal with acidic citrus fruits, teeth staining red wine and endless amounts of chocolate treats.

Take a look at our very own “naughty and nice” list of foods that will be kind to your mouth and devilish treats that will mess with your teeth.


The Naughty List

1.Wine - white wine can be very acidic and contributes to enamel erosion. Drinking little and often (as we are prone to do throughout Christmas) is more detrimental to your teeth than drinking a glass with your main meal. Red wine increases the risk of staining, especially if you don’t take care of your teeth by brushing them.

2.Processed cereals - full of sugar, breakfast cereals can be extremely damaging to your tooth enamel. If you do opt for this sugary treat on Christmas day, clean your teeth before you eat or half an hour after to prevent damage.

3.Sweets, biscuits and cakes - sugars are the prime cause of dental decay, try not to give into temptation by keeping treats to a minimum (as hard as that may be) and your teeth won’t be at risk of permanent damage. 4.Fizzy drinks - these are laden with sugar and even the sugar-free variety are still acidic, causing the erosion of tooth enamel. Switching to soda water is an option or, if temptation is too hard to take, lessen the damage by using a straw as this will minimise direct contact with your teeth. 5.Crisps - cooked starch breaks down into sugars, opt for carbs lower on the glycaemic index such as vegetable crisps (or just eat raw vegetables instead).


The Nice List

1.Cheese - rich in calcium, which promotes healthy teeth, cheese will balance the PH balance in your mouth which will neutralise the damaging effects of acid from a festive glass of wine (or two).

2.Nuts - (keep them unsalted where possible) these contain vitamin D and calcium, which are both vital for oral and general health. Walnuts, which are often found in Christmas puddings and cakes, contain zinc fibre, folic acid, iron, thiamine, magnesium, vitamin E & B6, potassium and zinc - all of which play a role in keeping your teeth and gums healthy.

3.Broccoli - both broccoli and carrots are particularly beneficial for your oral health because they contain vitamin A, helping to strengthen tooth enamel. 4.Crudités - because these are eaten raw they massage your gums, encouraging blood flood and cleaning your teeth naturally.

5.Turkey - a great source of protein, rich in phosphorus, calcium and vitamin D keeping our teeth (and bones) healthy. Protein helps reduce tooth decay and keeps teeth strong and healthy.