The 12 Days of (a tooth-friendly) Christmas

The festive season is upon us once more, and we’re all a little excited for this most special time of year. The lights are twinkling, the decorations are up, and Christmas jumpers get their yearly outing.

The Christmas season has always been a time for indulging in no shortage of tasty foods – from the big feast itself to plentiful opportunities for catching up with our nearest and dearest with mince pies, cake, Christmas pudding, mulled wine and a plethora of other sweet treats. These dishes are as much a part of Christmas as kissing under the mistletoe, unwrapping presents and singing carols together, and the holidays simply wouldn’t be the same without them.

Keeping oral health in mind throughout the holidays

Amid all the joyful celebration, there’s no getting away from the fact that Christmas isn’t exactly the most tooth-friendly time of year. You don’t want to start 2024 with poor oral health, and taking care of your teeth and gums over the festive season remains as important as at any other time of year.

Committed to keeping your dental health in tip-top condition over Christmas? We’ve got you covered with our rundown of best dental practices for each of the 12 most indulgent days in the calendar. While there aren’t any maids-a-milking, turtle doves or partridges in our 12 days of Christmas, there are plenty of pieces of excellent dental care advice to get you set for a happy, healthy new year full of confident smiles.

Day 1: Put a new toothbrush on your wishlist

We reckon Santa is a stickler for good dental health, so putting a brand new toothbrush on your Christmas wishlist a good idea.. Remember, it’s recommended to replace your toothbrush three times a year in order to ensure it remains hygienic and effective.

Day 2: Rethink your advent calendar

This might be a controversial one, but there are some brilliant tooth-friendly alternatives to the traditional chocolate advent calendars out there, so why not choose one with toys, puzzles, jokes or other treats that don’t damage young teeth?

Day 3: Don’t brush after bubbly

Christmas and sparkling wine (or any alcohol-free version) go hand in hand. However, sparkling wines like Champagne, Prosecco and Cava are highly acidic and unexpectedly packed full of sugar, which makes those celebratory drinks harmful for tooth enamel. To minimise eroding your tooth enamel, be sure to wait for at least an hour before brushing and drink plenty of water.

Day 4: Nibble with care

It’s all too easy to find yourself grazing and nibbling your way through the festive season, as the cupboards tend to be fuller than usual and there always seems to be something tempting to snack on within reach. Constantly reaching for extra bites of food won’t do your teeth any favours, and we’d recommend sticking to three square meals whenever possible. If you do feel the need to snack, opt for tooth-friendly bites like cheese, fruits, nuts and vegetables, or have your sweet treats in one go, so you’re not constantly exposing your teeth to sugar attacks throughout the day.

Day 5: Sticky tape danger

You’d be amazed at how many people wind up at the dentist each Christmas with chipped, broken or otherwise damaged teeth because of biting off pieces of sticky tape while wrapping presents. Do your teeth a favour and use a pair of scissors instead.

Day 6: Choose sweets wisely

If you’re going to indulge in some sugary treats but want to reduce the harm to your teeth, choose carefully. Avoid hard, sticky or chewy sweets, and reach for chocolate and zero-sugar alternatives instead.

Day 7: Be sure to drink water

When faced with mulled wine, Champagne, alcohol-free cocktails or fizzy drinks, it’s easy to forget the importance of drinking water throughout the holidays. When it comes to tooth-friendly drinks, there’s no replacement for good old H2O – it rinses your mouth of bacteria and food particles, keeps you hydrated without any sugar, and maintains the saliva levels that keep teeth and gums healthy.

Day 8: Turkey? Yes please!

While most Christmas dishes wouldn’t make the list of tooth-friendly festive treats (we’re looking at you, mince pies and sherry trifle!), turkey is a seasonal treat your dentist is sure to get behind. Turkey is packed full of phosphorus, which is great for strengthening teeth and bones. Nut roasts – especially those packed with phosphorus-rich Brazil nuts – make an excellent veggie or vegan option your teeth will be grateful for. Tuck right in!

Day 9: Use a straw

Using a straw when drinking carbonated drinks or sugary beverages will reduce the sugars in the drinks making contact with your teeth. We’d also recommend picking up a sustainable reusable straw, so you can help reduce plastic waste while helping your teeth at the same time.

Day 10: Don’t let your oral health routine slip

It sometimes feels like the festive season causes all kinds of routines, plans and schedules to fly out of the window as soon as the star is popped on top of the tree. Make sure your daily dental health routine – which should include brushing at least twice per day with a fluoride toothpaste and flossing once per day – remains in place, without exceptions.

Day 11: Don’t leave your toothbrush behind

If you’re heading out to visit friends and family for the holidays, be sure to pack all your dental care essentials with you. You wouldn’t be the first to forget your toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss (or Invisalign aligners and cleaning solutions, if you’re on a teeth straightening journey), and during the sugar-packed Christmas season, these everyday fundamentals of oral health are at their most crucial.

Day 12: Book your first check-up of 2024

With the new year just around the corner, it’s time to commit to your best ever smile for 2024. Book your next dental appointment at your nearest Smiles Dental clinic, and start the year as you mean to continue – with a beautiful, confident and healthy smile.

At Smiles Dental, we’re dedicated to providing quality dental care and a wide array of treatments and procedures for ensuring excellent oral health. Contact your local Smiles Dental clinic today (https://www.smiles.ie/practices), and benefit from our exceptional care and expertise throughout the new year and beyond.

« Back to all articles