The holidays are coming and for many of us that means an abundance of sweet treats and overindulgence in both food and drink. We don’t want to spoil anyone’s fun, but any dentist will tell you that Christmas is a danger time for oral health, as people tend to let good habits slide for the festive season.

In order to help you keep your teeth healthy while still enjoying yourself, the team here at Bristol dentists CK Dental has come up with some top tips:

Tip #1: Keep sweet treats for mealtimes

Don’t deny yourself a sugar hit, but try to save it for post dinner; if your mouth is already producing saliva, it will do a better job of protecting your teeth, as saliva helps to neutralise acid and wash away food remnants. Get the kids into the habit of this in the run-up to Christmas, by only letting them open the advent calendar immediately after breakfast!

Tip #2: Drink tap water

We all know it’s important to stay hydrated, but did you know drinking water can also help keep trips to the dentist to a minimum? Have a glass of water straight after indulging in anything sugary, and it will help to wash away the sugars coating your teeth, which can eventually cause decay. The fluoride found in tap water can also help to protect your teeth.

Tip #3: Wait half an hour before brushing your teeth

When you’ve eaten something sweet, the urge to brush your teeth straightaway can be overwhelming, but sugars soften the enamel of the teeth and if you brush immediately you can end up eroding the enamel away. GDC-registered dentist Mr Krause advises waiting at least 30 minutes before brushing your teeth after eating something sweet.

We hope this advice helps you to enjoy the festivities without worrying about the damage you are doing to your teeth – and if you do slip up, don’t panic, just book an appointment at our Bristol clinic in the new year!

Merry Christmas from all of us here at CK Dental!