Have you sent that mail to Santa yet? Packed your gifts? Woah! It’s just a few days to go and Christmas is here. While you have made those lists of your activities for this season, it is important that you fairly put down on your Christmas to-do several measures to keep your teeth in the perfect shape.
We know it might take every will to keep your oral hygiene in perfect shape this period, we are not going to judge you for that but there are some easy ways to limit the impact on your dental health. We are here to ensure that you stay fit with your oral health. We need you to smile confidently during this period and stay without the need for a dental emergency procedure.
Here are ten ways that you’re putting a healthy smile at risk this Christmas, and how to avoid doing any permanent damage to those pearly whites during the festive season.
1. WRAPPING THE PRESENTS
In the Christmas spirit, we wrap gifts and extend our love in parcels to our neighbors, friends as well as family. We often wrestle with wrapping the gifts days or a day before Christmas and end up using our teeth as a scissor alternative. However, did you know that this can actually be an oral health hazard?
Using your teeth as a scissor alternative would definitely harm your teeth. This is because ripping the tap puts pressure on teeth edges thereby paving way for teeth damage and crack. In extreme cases, you might lose your teeth. We advise that you get scissors or a tape dispenser to avoid putting your teeth in trouble.
2. LIMITLESS SNACKING
Christmas is directly proportional to fun, snacking and a lot of extras to keep the body, mind, and soul together. With the jolly season, it would be quite difficult to find yourself being conscious of what you consume. Little wonder by January you would realize that you have gained some pounds. Unmonitored or uncontrolled snacking can cause damage to your smile without you even noticing.
It is important to know that it is not the amount of sugar you consume that causes damage to your teeth but the frequency at which it is consumed. So, if you find yourself continuing snacking, your mouth may continually produce acid which is no good for the enamel.
The recommended solution? It’s far better to binge on a stash of sweets in one go, rather than coming back to them in small portions during the day – consider this permission to polish off your sweet treats in one fell swoop.
3. PICKING AT YOUR TEETH
Leave those wooden picks alone this season. Trust floss and interdental brushes to help do the needful with those stuck thighs of chicken and the likes of them. If you are considering closing up those interdental spaces, you could contact us today.
We advise that you are gentle with your teeth. After meals, gargle your mouth with water and trust dental floss and interdental brushes as earlier stated.
4. CHEWY SWEETS
Someone once said there is a magical sensation chewy sweets can give to the brain. And we replied the same sensation that can cause you a long time troubles with your oral hygiene. Be extremely careful with chewy, sticky candies this period, especially if you have a restorative in your mouth. If you can’t resist the urge for sweet teeth, settle for licking them rather than chewing them.
5. CRACKING NUTS
The sound of cracking nuts with the tooth can be satisfying. As satisfying as it may seem, it is really a bad idea. Oh yes, it is. While cracking that nut, there are tendencies that you may crack your molar in the process or even cause attrition on the teeth. Always use a nutcracker – no exceptions.
6. ICE CUBES
Ice, cold drinks are inevitable this Christmas season- however, take care. We advise that you prevent chewing on ice and limit the number of cold drinks you consume. If you neglect the advice, you may end up having teeth sensitivity drama. And of course, if you have sensitive teeth, you might want to steer clear of ice as it can be painful on the tooth surface – pour your drink into a chilled glass instead.
7.. OPENING BOTTLES WITH YOUR TEETH
In the same way that you shouldn’t crack nuts with your teeth, opening bottles with your gnashers is a terrible idea. But it’s one that lots of people find themselves doing anyway, once the drinks are flowing. Opening bottles with your teeth has got the potential to cause serious dental damage to both teeth and gums. You should avoid doing this at all costs – make sure there’s plenty of bottle openers around, as nobody wants to have to rush a guest to the emergency dentist mid-party
8. RED WINE
Red wine takes a toll on your teeth. Red wine is acidic and sugary. This means that it can erode teeth enamel, lead to lower levels of calcium, and ultimately, weaken your teeth. In addition to this, red wines like this contain tannins, which make the tooth enamel more porous, and more susceptible to staining.
9. NEGLECTING YOUR DENTAL CARE ROUTINE
The festive season is an incredibly busy time. There is always so much to do, and – especially if you’re on a night out – dental hygiene, much like taking off your makeup, maybe one of those things that slips by the wayside. Forgetting once or twice is unlikely to do your teeth any real harm, although it’s not ideal. The issue is if it becomes a regular occurrence. Skipping your pre-bedtime brush, especially during the festive season, can cause a rapid build-up of problems, including decay, plaque, and bad breath, as well as gum issues. Aim to brush for two minutes, twice a day, and make it a habit to be the first thing you do in the morning and the last thing you do before bed so that it’s harder to forget.
- BE CONSCIOUS
Being conscious of your actions this season is one of the ways to keep your oral hygiene on the best track. We know you want to have fun and have a blast, however, you should always remember, dentistry is not expensive but neglect is.
