Festive Tips for Protecting Your Dental Health

23 December 2022

Festive Tips for Protecting Your Dental Health

Christmas week is finally upon us, and it’s fair to say that all of us at London Holistic Dental Centre are looking forward to a few days relaxing and enjoying all of our festive favourite treats.

The last thing anyone wants in the coming period is a dental emergency, so we thought we would share some tips for protecting your dental health at this time of year!

• Avoid the toffees

We cannot stress this enough; it’s one of the most common reasons why people have a dental emergency at this time of year. Of course, we’re not saying to avoid all sweet treats, but if you have crowns, fillings or onlays, please be careful with any kind of sticky treat (like toffees, fudge, caramel) which may dislodge them. This may seem like an obvious thing to state, but you’d be surprised how many times people think “one won’t do any harm” and then end up needing an appointment.

• Be careful of tripping hazards

Again, this may seem too obvious to state, but the number of people who end up with broken teeth because of tripping over toys is higher than you’d think. We’ve all seen the comedy sketches of misplaced Lego and how everything quickly goes wrong. So, if the kids or grandkids have Santa’s spoils out, just be sure where you’re placing your feet. Likewise, we all indulge in a few sherries over the festive period, so we should be careful of falling and damaging teeth while walking up stairs/getting into the bath, etc.

• Be prepared

Why is it that a toothache or a lost filling always occurs at the least appropriate time? It’s worth always having two things in your first aid box or bathroom cabinet over the festive period. The first is a bottle of clove oil, which is antiseptic and anaesthetic and can really help to soothe the pain of a toothache until you get to see us. The second is emergency filling material, available in most pharmacies, with a common brand being Toofypegs. This can be used to plug the gap left by a missing filling for a few days until you get to see us.

• Enjoy yourself

All the above tips are just ways to ensure you have a great time over the festive period and avoid a dental emergency. If they seemed a bit stark, then just remember Christmas is also the period when most cheese is consumed across the UK, and cheese is great for teeth. It helps to return the mouth to its natural acid balance and helps reduce the chances of developing tooth decay. That’s why cheeseboards after the main meal are a great idea. Even a little piece of cheese can have the same effect. The same can be said for sugar-free chewing gum (although it may not be great table etiquette!).

Vegan cheese is also good for teeth; while it does not naturally contain calcium, it is, like other processed foods of plant-based origin, fortified with multiple vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B12, vitamin D, and calcium.

All that remains is to wish you and yours a wonderful Christmas from all of us, and may 2023 bring health, happiness and prosperity. We look forward to seeing you in the New Year.