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Festive Smiles: Dental Advice to Keep Your Teeth Merry & Bright This Christmas

1. Manage the Sugar Rush (Without Ditching the Fun!)

Christmas is full of sugar: mince pies, chocolates, candy canes, gingerbread, and festive desserts. Sugar feeds oral bacteria, which produce acids that dissolve enamel.


Easy swaps & tips:

Choose chocolate over sticky sweets (it melts away faster and is less harmful).

Keep sweet treats to mealtimes instead of grazing.

Drink water after sugary snacks to reduce acid.

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2. Don’t Let Your Oral Routine Go on Holiday

Late nights make it tempting to skip brushing—but plaque works overtime.

Non-negotiables:

Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.

Use interdental brushes every day.

Don’t rinse straight after brushing.

Change your toothbrush before the new year if it’s worn.



For busy party nights: keep travel-size brushes in your bag or car.

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3. Be Cautious With Festive Drinks

Prosecco, mulled wine, hot cider, and cocktails are acidic and often sugary.

Protect your teeth by:

Using a straw for fizzy or acidic drinks.

Drinking water between alcoholic drinks.

Avoiding brushing immediately after acidic beverages (wait 30–60 minutes).

Mulled wine lovers: it stains! Rinse with water afterwards.

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4. Balance Sugar With Tooth-Friendly Foods

Foods like cheese, nuts, and veggies help neutralise acid and stimulate saliva.

Great festive choices:

Cheese boards (great for enamel!)

Raw carrots and celery sticks

Nut mixes (as long as you crack them safely—no teeth!)

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5. Don’t Use Your Teeth as Tools

Teeth are not bottle openers, nutcrackers, or tag snippers.

Every Christmas, dentists see:

Cracks from opening bottles

Chipped teeth from hard foods

Broken restorations from stubborn packaging


Grab a proper tool instead!

😁


6. Watch Out for Hard Christmas Treats

Candy canes

Toffees

Nuts in shells

Crackling


Biting down the wrong way can cause cracks—and emergency appointments over the holidays are no fun.

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7. Book a Post-Holiday Checkup


Christmas is a great time to reflect on health. A January checkup:

Catches early problems

Refreshes hygiene after holiday indulgence

Starts the new year with a confident smile

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Final Thoughts


Christmas is a time to enjoy yourself, and with a little planning, you can protect your teeth while still indulging. Treats are fine in moderation—just give your smile the care it deserves. If you need a dentist in New Malden around Christmas time, get in touch!