Don’t Let Your Dental Care Slip This Christmas

Some things might go out of the window during the holiday period. Make sure that oral care is not one of them!

Christmas is just around the corner and will be upon us before we realise it. No doubt, there will be the last minute rush for forgotten Christmas presents, along with the essential items needed to see us through the festivities. With all this going on, it is understandable that some things may take a ‘back seat’ for a few days.

At The Dental Centre Bedford, we want to ensure that all of our patients not only have a happy Christmas, but also one that is trouble free and that avoids any damage being done to their teeth or gums.

Mind the sugar….

Inevitably, most of us will let our general diet slip for a few days. Providing that you continue to clean your teeth well during this time, no long term damage should be done. That said, it is always worth keeping in mind the amount of sugar that you consume during this time. This especially applies to those which are continually eaten throughout the day, such as sweets and chocolates. This type of ‘grazing’ provides a continuous supply of food for the harmful bacteria in our mouth which can cause damage to our teeth and gums.

And the alcohol!

Alcohol consumption will almost certainly rise over the festive holidays and this does present a few challenges for our oral health. Aside from the fact that many alcoholic drinks are very high in sugars, the dehydrating effect of alcohol can cause a dry mouth. Again, this provides an excellent breeding environment for the bacteria which can lead to gum diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis.

In addition to these risks, accidents are more likely to occur when too much alcohol has been consumed. Hopefully, our Bedford patients will avoid this by moderating their alcohol intake and alternating their drinks with water. If, in the unfortunate event of an accident, you do need an emergency dental appointment over the holidays, when we are closed, please call our regular phone number, 01234 819868 for instructions on what to do.

Additional tips

In order to help our Bedford patients have a great and trouble free holiday period, here are some ‘bullet point’ tips that we have put together which can help you to keep your teeth and gums healthy.

• However tired you are at the end of the day, do make sure to brush (and floss) your teeth
• Do NOT attempt to open bottles with your teeth. It still surprises us how many people we see, that have attempted to do this. Many not only have broken teeth, but also some facial injuries too.
• End your day with a nice piece of cheese. Strange though it may seem, cheese is very good for your mouth! It helps to neutralise the acids that have accumulated during the day. You should still, of course, make sure to brush your teeth before you go to bed.

We hope that this blog helps you to stay safe and dental problem free over the Christmas holidays. We are also taking appointments for the New Year. If you would like to make yours, please call our Bedford practice on 01234 819868.