It is that time again, the diary is filling fast and the to do lists are never ending, but how good will this festive season be for your teeth?

As the festive season starts, everyone tends to consume more sweet treats, fizzy drinks, dried fruits and the odd alcoholic beverage or two. All these things form an integral part in ensuring you get into the festive spirit but can cause havoc for your teeth unless you maintain your oral hygiene routine.

Therefore, the team at Writtle Dental Practice have come up with 5 top tips to keep your teeth looking their best throughout the festive season

• Brush your teeth in the morning

Be sure that, no matter what else is going on, to make brushing your teeth before breakfast a priority. This helps to protect your teeth from attacks from sugary and acidic foods throughout the day.

• Drink through a straw

Over the festive season, your consumption of sugary and acid drinks is likely to increase. By drinking through a straw you can reduce the amount of time that liquids come into contact with your teeth, reducing the risk of tooth decay and acid erosion.

• Chew sugar free gum

Every time you eat or drink your mouth is under attack from the acids present in foods and drinks. By chewing sugar free chewing gum you can help to neutralise the acids in your mouth returning it to a neutral pH, reducing the risk of decay.  

• Teeth are not tools

In order to avoid broken teeth make sure that you always have scissors, a bottle opener and nut crackers to hand. Your teeth are not designed as tools and need to be cared for to ensure that you can enjoy your Christmas dinner!

• Brush your teeth in the evening

The last thing you should do, before your head hits the pillow, is brush your teeth and use interdental cleaning aids to remove any debris trapped in areas brushing alone misses. Do not rinse your mouth after brushing as this washes away the fluoride in the toothpaste, leaving you at greater risk of decay.

If you would like further advice on keeping your teeth healthy please call 01245 421781 to book an appointment with our experienced dentists at Writtle Dental Practice. All the team at Writtle Dental Practice would like to wish our patients a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.