Top Ten Tips for Dental Hygiene at Christmas

Hamed Karimi, Lead Clinician and Practice Director at Norfolk Dental Specialists, has a regular column in East Anglia’s best-loved magazine: Let’s Talk. The column provides a great platform for discussing all aspects of dental healthcare. In December’s issue, our hygienists shared their top ten tips for looking after your teeth and gums at Christmas. We thought we’d share them on our blog as well.

1.  Don’t brush straight after eating sweet things, wait at least half an hour. Teeth are more porous after eating and acid levels in the mouth increase with sugar intake.    

2.  Champagne, Prosecco, wine and alcohol generally can increase tooth sensitivity, so consider using a sensitive toothpaste if you are intending to drink. Sipping water also helps and brushing before drinking alcohol can also help reduce tooth sensitivity. 

3.  Eating a small amount of cheese after indulging in ‘naughty’ foods neutralises the acid in your mouth.

4.  After eating sticky fruits like dates or those in Christmas cake, rinse your mouth with water. This helps to prevent decay which could occur if food is left on teeth and around gums.

5.  Don’t be tempted to crack nut shells with your teeth, it will be painful and can be costly to restore broken teeth.

6.  Chewing sugar-free gum after eating does help to neutralise acidity in the mouth. It can help remove and neutralise the acids produced by the bacteria in plaque. Artificial sweeteners in the gum and the act of chewing itself increase saliva flow, which helps to wash away food particles – making you ready for a quick kiss under the mistletoe!  

7.  Don’t use household implements to clean or pick at your teeth, such as pins, tweezers, hairgrips and such.  They will damage your tooth surface and gums and can cause trauma and bleeding.

8.  Floss, Tepes and Interdental brushes are very handy and discreet to pop into a handbag or car glove compartment, if you are enjoying a night out and can’t brush.  They help to reach trapped food around crowns, implants or dentures.   

9.  Do consider putting an electric toothbrush on your Christmas present list, or treat yourself.  Electric brushes such as the Oral-B 4000 Smart series (the one we recommend) have been clinically proven to be more effective at plaque removal than a manual tooth brush. 

10.  Make your New Year resolution to look after your oral health, make that appointment to visit your dentist or hygienist on the 2nd January 2018! 

At Norfolk Dental Specialists, we want our patients to love their teeth all year round – not just at Christmas. If you need any advice on how to maintain a healthy smile, our team of dental hygienists will be happy to help.