The Australian Dental Association has released an ‘oral health survival kit’ urging people not to let their mouths become a Christmas casualty – by engaging in such activities as cracking nuts with your teeth. Here’s some age advice from ADA president Dr Scott Davis.
1. Avoid thoughtless eating and drinking. Dentists love a party the same as the next person. “We’re not the Grinch, but at this time of year it’s about moderation,” says ADA president Dr Scott Davis.
Thoughtless eating is when we eat without even thinking twice about it, it’s eating because food is there, not because we’re hungry. An easy rule of thumb before reaching for that next sweet treat is to ask yourself: ‘Am I really hungry?’ Consider a more tooth-friendly snack instead, such as savoury popcorn.
2. Can the candy cane – hard lollies are the worst. They’re made of 100 per cent sugar and are often responsible for accidents involving broken teeth or fillings. They also take longer to dissolve in the mouth, meaning the teeth are exposed to sugar for longer, increasing the risk of tooth decay.
3. Limit sugary drinks and alcohol. Most people are aware that sugary drinks can contribute to tooth decay, but alcohol is an aspect of Christmas people don’t normally associate with tooth decay – with regular alcoholic drinks potentially increasing the risk.
If drinking spirits, minimise your sugar intake by choosing soda water as a mixer rather than a soft drink like lemonade. Drinking a glass of water between alcoholic drinks is also a good idea as it helps to rinse away some of the acid from the drink. Alcohol can also make you dehydrated, so regularly drinking water can also help you to stay hydrated because a dry mouth is also a factor in tooth decay risk.
And wait at least an hour between your last alcoholic or fizzy drink and teeth brushing. Brushing too soon can damage the softened tooth enamel caused by acidity in the drinks.
4. Flossing. With all the eating and drinking you may be doing, don’t forget to floss daily – or if you don’t do it yet, make the Christmas break a great time to get into the habit. It only takes a few minutes a day and helps to remove all the food debris sitting between your teeth. In fact brushing only removes 60 per cent of food debris.
5. If you’re travelling, keep up the dental basics. Stopping brushing and flossing even for three days can result in plaque build-up and gingivitis starting.
Are you always careful to keep to maintain your oral health?
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