Festive season is fast approaching, and for some, the holidays are already in full swing. There’s a range of reasons to love Christmas, even if you don’t celebrate the religious aspects. For most people, the holiday season is about two main things: family, and food! Whilst we all know sugar is the arch-nemesis of oral hygiene, more dangers lurk in your festive feast than you might think…
Here’s how to have your favourite Christmas foods without damaging your smile!
Christmas Foods to Enjoy In Moderation
We know it’s not Christmas without food. From unwrapping chocolates in stockings, to the constant stream of snacks throughout the day, free-flowing food and drink is a major part of Christmas. Whilst we’re not suggesting you skip out on the holiday fun, here’s some foods to enjoy in moderation:
- Sugar cookies – they’re called “sugar” cookies for a reason, and that’s because it’s the main ingredient!
- Dried fruits – how can fruit be unhealthy!? Turns out, dried fruits are often coated in sugars, meaning this sweet treat is just more sugar masquerading as a healthy snack. Mince pies stuffed with dried fruit, pastry, and sugar, are an extra problem for your smile. Replace dried fruits with fresh fruits instead, and limit mince pies.
- Mulled wine – this sweet drink is high in sugar, whilst the alcohol dries your mouth out, limiting production of sugar-neutralising saliva. Plus, the red wine base contains tannins, which cause tooth staining. Limit this festive icon to just a single small glass with Christmas dinner, and drink water afterwards to help clear any lingering sugars off your teeth (not to mention lessen the effects of any hangovers on Boxing Day!).
Christmas Foods to Absolutely Avoid!
Whilst nobody likes to hear that their favorite snacks are bad for them, these festive treats should be avoided as much as possible – unless you want to spend the New Year with the dentist!
- Candy canes – another holiday staple that consists mostly of sugar. These snacks look lovely trimming the tree, but because they’re meant to be sucked on for a long period, it means your teeth are repeatedly exposed to sugar.
- Toffees and peanut brittles – these foods are a double dose of bad news for your smile. Hard and chewy, toffees and peanut brittles are often the cause of damaged teeth. They’ve even been known to pull out fillings, crowns, or loose teeth due to their sticky nature. Dodge this festive snack at all costs!
Bad Christmas Habits
More important than the foods you eat over the festive period are the habits we often pick up. Christmas can be busy, and between the feasting and partying, it can be easy to let oral hygiene slip.
Make sure you don’t pick up any bad habits over the holiday season and maintain a good oral health care routine.
- Brush teeth first thing in the morning to remove plaque. Do this before breakfast, and before opening any Christmas presents!
- Avoid snacking – try to eat only during mealtimes instead of picking at food throughout the day, otherwise you’re constantly consuming more sugar and not giving your teeth time to recover after eating.
- Drink water after meals to help wash away any food debris and lingering sugars.
- Always brush before bed and make sure you’re going to bed with clean teeth. If you’ve brushed your teeth, avoid eating again after, or brush them again before bed to keep food and bacteria from lingering on your teeth overnight. Only drink water after brushing your teeth for the night.
- Remember to floss!
Keeping good hygiene habits is just as important as what you actually eat over the holidays. It’s okay to indulge over Christmas, but always enjoy in moderation for the sake of your smile and your overall health.
As always, we’ll be here on reduced hours over the holidays to help with any oral healthcare problems you may have.
Find your local clinic here for support with any dental issues over the festive period.