As Christmas quickly approaches, for many, it means family gatherings filled with food, alcohol and fun.
It’s a welcome break for us all but Dental Care Ireland have some tips on enjoying the holiday treats with less worry about your oral health.
Dr Jen Collins, Clinical Director at Dental Care Ireland and Lead General Dentist of Northumberland Dental Care, has some insight on how we can best protect our dental health at Christmas.
“Although it is fine to enjoy Christmas treats in moderation, all of the socialising can cause your sugar consumption to increase, which puts your oral health in jeopardy significantly,” she said.
Harmful bacteria feed on the sugar you consume and damage your tooth enamel, often resulting in cavities.
Unfortunately, most alcoholic drinks include high sugar content and increase your risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Also flavoured coffee drinks and cocktails are sneaky sources of sugar because people often have these in addition to meals and snacks. To help fight this enamel damage-causing foods and drinks, drink a glass of water with the food or drink or after you finish.
“The water will help wash away harmful bacteria and keep you hydrated,” said Dr Jen.
Lots of us have Christmas buffets and Dr Jen recommends including some healthy choices alongside the cocktail sausages. Crunchy vegetables with dips, nuts, and low-fat cheese won’t add a huge sugar load to your guests.
Limit processed foods as much as you can. There are no hidden sugars in homemade treats, however the same is not true of processed foods. Be sure to read your ingredients label before consuming to see just how much sugar you’re really taking in. For example, processed cranberry sauce will contain a lot more sugar.
“I always advise to check labels,” said Dr Jen.
Sugar goes by many aliases, like agave, corn sweetener, dextrose, juice concentrate, glucose, honey, maltose, molasses, sucrose, and anything with the words sugar or syrup.
Choosing naturally sweetened fruit to satisfy your sweet tooth is best. Not only is it lower in sugar, but it provides natural vitamins and minerals that support your oral health and your body. Also, pair the fruit with a variety of cheeses that provide enamel building calcium for your teeth.
Drinking red wine can stain your teeth, while white wine has a lower risk of discoloration. When sipping red wine, eat a meal or snack on tooth-friendly vegetables and cheeses to reduce the risk of staining your teeth.
Chewing hard or crunchy sweets can chip, crack, or split your teeth resulting in an emergency dental visit. To reduce your risk of tooth damage when you choose to eat hard or crunchy candy, let it dissolve in your mouth.
Dental Care Ireland is an Irish dental business with 33 practices nationwide.
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