According to the British Dental Health Foundation, constant eating of sugary foods over Christmas can make the holiday period a miserable time for teeth. (DTI/Photo courtesy of ER_09/shutterstock)
Dec 23, 2011 | News EuropeChristmas: a miserable time for teeth
RUGBY, UK: Constant snacking, drinking and eating sugary foods and liquids over Christmas can make the holiday period a miserable time for teeth, the British Dental Health Foundation warns. The consumption of tempting treats means that teeth are likely to be under a constant risk of attack from tooth decay and tooth erosion over the festive period.
The Foundation stated that sugar-filled mince pies, chocolate selection boxes, fizzy drinks and acidic alcoholic drinks like red wine that make up a traditional festive diet are all likely to pose a hazard to teeth during the holidays.
“It is important to be extra vigilant with your oral health over the Christmas period,” said Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter. “Your teeth are under attack for up to one hour after eating or drinking, and if you think about how much is consumed, and how often, particularly over Christmas and Boxing Day, your teeth don't really get the chance to recover.”
According to Carter, brushing teeth just before going to bed will ensure that you have removed acid-forming plaque before sleep – as your saliva flow slows down overnight – while brushing first thing in the morning is a simple way to limit damage caused to your teeth.
To ensure you fully enjoy this time of year without having to compromise on what you eat and drink, the Foundation recommends that everyone bear in mind it is not how much sugary food and drink one has, but rather how often one has these that causes a perilous situation for oral health.
The Foundation reports that traditional foods like cranberries – the perfect accompaniment to one’s turkey – are scientifically proven to benefit overall health, and scientists have also shown they may have the capacity to help prevent both gum disease and tooth decay. However, moderation is important, as cranberries are acidic and it is a good idea not to have them too often throughout the day to avoid erosion of teeth enamel.
Other things, like passing a tin of sweets around throughout the day, selection boxes and even Bucks Fizz, have the potential to damage teeth if consumed too often. For this reason, it is best to try and restrict such food and drink to mealtimes. Mince pies, Christmas cake and Christmas pudding are all laden with dried fruit, which is high in sugar and sticks to the teeth where it can cause the most damage.
To accommodate these treats, it is a good idea to offer a cheese board after mealtimes, as a small piece of cheese will help to return the mouth to its natural acid balance and thereby help to reduce the chances of tooth decay. Chewing on sugar-free gum for around ten minutes can also have the same effect.
To accommodate children’s sweet tooth without damaging their teeth, Carter suggested some novel yet practical ways of getting the balance right between having a sweet tooth and healthy teeth. “Children will inevitably get sweets, so try and get them to eat them straight after mealtimes rather than grazing on them all day. New research even suggests ice cream containing probiotics could reduce levels of tooth decay so in the future this could become a healthier option. Any fruit juice they have should be diluted 10 parts water to one part juice as most are acidic and many contain added sugar.”
“It is important to be extra vigilant with your oral health over the Christmas period,” said Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter. “Your teeth are under attack for up to one hour after eating or drinking, and if you think about how much is consumed, and how often, particularly over Christmas and Boxing Day, your teeth don't really get the chance to recover.”
According to Carter, brushing teeth just before going to bed will ensure that you have removed acid-forming plaque before sleep – as your saliva flow slows down overnight – while brushing first thing in the morning is a simple way to limit damage caused to your teeth.
To ensure you fully enjoy this time of year without having to compromise on what you eat and drink, the Foundation recommends that everyone bear in mind it is not how much sugary food and drink one has, but rather how often one has these that causes a perilous situation for oral health.
The Foundation reports that traditional foods like cranberries – the perfect accompaniment to one’s turkey – are scientifically proven to benefit overall health, and scientists have also shown they may have the capacity to help prevent both gum disease and tooth decay. However, moderation is important, as cranberries are acidic and it is a good idea not to have them too often throughout the day to avoid erosion of teeth enamel.
Other things, like passing a tin of sweets around throughout the day, selection boxes and even Bucks Fizz, have the potential to damage teeth if consumed too often. For this reason, it is best to try and restrict such food and drink to mealtimes. Mince pies, Christmas cake and Christmas pudding are all laden with dried fruit, which is high in sugar and sticks to the teeth where it can cause the most damage.
To accommodate these treats, it is a good idea to offer a cheese board after mealtimes, as a small piece of cheese will help to return the mouth to its natural acid balance and thereby help to reduce the chances of tooth decay. Chewing on sugar-free gum for around ten minutes can also have the same effect.
To accommodate children’s sweet tooth without damaging their teeth, Carter suggested some novel yet practical ways of getting the balance right between having a sweet tooth and healthy teeth. “Children will inevitably get sweets, so try and get them to eat them straight after mealtimes rather than grazing on them all day. New research even suggests ice cream containing probiotics could reduce levels of tooth decay so in the future this could become a healthier option. Any fruit juice they have should be diluted 10 parts water to one part juice as most are acidic and many contain added sugar.”
