Looking after your teeth this holiday season

There’s a reason we call the Christmas and New Year break the silly season! We let loose eating and drinking what we usually wouldn’t, getting totally out of routine, and being generally easier on ourselves – and why not? It’s been a long year and we deserve to kick up our heels! But spare a thought for your teeth while you’re having all this fun – these guys continue to work tirelessly throughout the silly season and deserve a bit of care too. Every year we weaken our teeth a little bit more, but there are things we can do to make sure our pearly whites stay that way into old age, while still having fun.

Oral health prep pre-season

There are two things you can do for your teeth to prep them for the holidays ahead – get a professional clean from your dentist, and be aware of the risks of indulging.

  1. This is the perfect time to book in with Dr Carolyn and the team for a professional clean. Who knows how much sugary and acidic food and drinks you’re about to ingest, so why not give your teeth and mouth a clean slate to work with?
  2. Be aware of the risks the increased sugar, acids, and lack of routine poses to your oral health – and then know what can mitigate these ie. increased brushing and flossing, healthier food choices, eating and drinking consciously. 

Tooth care while enjoying the holidays

With Christmas kicking off the summer holiday, we can be forgiven for (over)indulging in the sunshine – long brunches, lunches, BBQs, and parties. But let’s look at what all that indulgence generally means in terms of oral health.

  • Alcohol – most alcoholic drinks are very sugary and acidic, causing havoc in your mouth as bacteria thrives. Alcohol is also dehydrating, and this includes saliva. Make sure you’re drinking lots of water between the beer, wine, and cocktails, and always brush your teeth before falling into bed.
  • Food, glorious food – chocolate, Christmas cake, pavs, lollies… the list goes on. And so does the risk of cavities. We love to graze when we’re celebrating and can easily lose track of the amount of sugar we’ve eaten. Try to stick to the usual mealtime routine, balance out the chocolates with the carrot sticks, and brush between meals.
  • Holiday stress – we like to think of the holidays as relaxing, but they can be full of stress. Travelling, having people stay, more cooking – these are all things that can stress us out and increase teeth grinding, and jaw clenching, which are not good for your teeth. Try to take deep breaths, find somewhere to unwind in peace, and delegate the clean up to someone else.

Commit to your teeth in the new year

Luckily, we can always rely on the new year to increase our motivation to treat our teeth like the heroes they are! Our top recommendations are:

  • Commit to brushing your teeth for two minutes, twice a day
  • Floss with every toothbrushing session
  • Ditch the juice for water – you won’t be disappointed
  • Book an appointment with your dentist every six months

We don’t want to spoil anyone’s fun over the holidays, but we do want your teeth to last you to a ripe old age. Start with the pre-silly season prep and book an appointment with Dr Carolyn and the team today.