Overindulging, festive feasting and yummy treats – yay, it’s Christmas!
We’re all well aware of the impact that the celebrations can have on our waistline, but how much consideration do you give to your teeth?
Red wine, chocolate, dried fruits – just some of the many culprits guilty of attacking our teeth at Christmas. So, as the party season kicks in, the team at Harley Street Smile Clinic, take a closer look at how to minimise the impact of the celebrations on your smile. And how – with a few clever tips and a little help from the experts – your dreams of a white Christmas could come true…
What causes stained teeth?
There are lots of factors that can impact on the colour of our teeth – what we eat plays a big part but so too do our age and habits – such as smoking.
No one wants to be a killjoy at Christmas, and we definitely don’t want to tell you not to enjoy all the food and drink on offer. But if you’re keen to keep your teeth in tip-top condition, then there are a few festive favourites to try and enjoy in moderation…
On the naughty list…
- Mulled wine – not only is this mostly made up of red wine, which is renowned for staining, it also has added sugar and citrus fruits – a tooth staining nightmare!
- Citrus fruits – tangerines and clementines, you may think they’re a welcome break from all the chocolate and a healthy choice, but whilst they are great for us in many ways, citrus fruits are highly acidic and can erode tooth enamel.
- Candy canes – no sweets are ‘good’ but candy canes are the real enemy at this time of the year. A triple threat – hard, sticky and sugary – they last longer in the mouth and have more time to cause damage.
On the good list…
- Nuts – surprised? You do need to be wary – a careless bite and they can cause a chipped tooth – but these yuletide staples are full of healthy vitamins and minerals that all help to keep our teeth in tip-top condition. Chewing on them also helps to stimulate salvia, which neutralises corrosive acids in the mouth.
- Turkey – we would fully advocate eating turkey far more frequently. Not only is it a lean and healthy source of protein, it is also packed full of nutrients like phosphorous (similar to calcium) which helps to promote healthy teeth.
- Gingerbread – ok so, yes, this is a biscuit. But it’s a traditional seasonal treat, is yummy, and yet contains significantly less sugar than other types of biscuit…and it is Christmas after all!
Easy ‘at home’ tips
With a little more awareness and a few careful choices, you can help to minimise the impact on your oral health. Simple things like:
- Choose your treats wisely – consult the naughty list above and try to think more carefully about what you’re eating and drinking. Swap to white wine instead of red or pick white spirits over dark. Similarly, try to opt for the least sugary option such as dark chocolate instead of milk. These are all little ways you can reduce the negative effects on your teeth whilst still enjoying yourself.
- Brush more – we all know we should try to brush at least twice a day but over the festive period, with rich food and constant grazing, it’s a good idea to up that amount and certainly to brush after every big meal.
- Use an electric toothbrush – if you’ve not got an electric toothbrush this could be a great addition to the wish list! Not only do they encourage you to brush for the optimum amount of time, they also help you to apply the right amount of pressure. Making sure you get a thorough clean without over brushing.
- Floss – an important part of dental hygiene, flossing removes yellowing plaque and food from awkward gaps, helping to protect and enhance the overall look and colour of teeth.
Book your whitening treatment today
To restore the full natural sparkle to your teeth, you may benefit from a whitening treatment.
Here at the Harley Street Smile Clinic, we offer teeth whitening as part of our mini smile makeover – the perfect festive pick-me-up.
To maximise the treatment, we first provide stain removal. This means that, rather than battling through tough stains to reach the surface of teeth, we use advanced dental equipment to get rid of the imperfections so that the whitening treatment is applied directly to the surface of the tooth. The result? You get longer lasting and more impressive whitening.
Ready to make your dream of a white Christmas a reality? Then why not get in touch with the team today. You can call us on 020 7971 1909 or use our contact form and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
