Tips to help your dental health this season.

 

While many people use an advent or 12-day calendar as a fun way to build anticipation in the lead up to Christmas, there are now many other alternatives to the traditional sugar-filled treats associated with these, including:

1. Small toys- like crayons, craft supplies, hair clips, stickers or bouncy balls.
2. Story a day- there are now ready-made advent calendars that have books in place of treats which can lead to some quality time spent each day.
3. Puzzle creation- this can be as simple as a special message or picture that is broken into pieces. Place one puzzle piece in each day of your advent calendar. It could even be a cryptic clue to the present that is awaiting the child or adult on Christmas morning.
4. Activity-based treats- these could be notes about a fun family activity that you will do each day, like making your own ornaments, putting up the tree, wrapping presents for others, taking a walk to a favourite location.
5. Try a Christmas box instead- gift the box at the beginning of the month or even each week and fill with items such as seasonal movies, pyjamas, slippers and a mug for hot chocolate or eggnog.

 

Get through the holidays with your smile intact

1. Carol while you clean: You should aim to brush your teeth for at least two minutes for an optimal clean. Pass the time by humming a carol or your favourite holiday song while you brush. If you’re feeling like some family fun (that may also involve a little mess) see who can brush their teeth while singing a carol the best. There may be some guessing involved to name the carol they’re singing if they’re brushing properly!
2. Set a time limit: It can be tempting to graze the delicious food that we often have available throughout the holiday season, but eating all day puts our teeth at more risk of decay. This is due to the bacteria that is left in our mouth for longer periods of time, leading to tooth decay. Set yourself some specific times of the day to set out food to eat, your teeth will thank you for it.
3. Focus on meaningful events, not food: We often base our holiday events on food, which can be bad for our teeth and other areas of our health. To take the focus off food, set up activities like board games and card games, craft projects or holiday movie sessions.
4. Watch the wine: Remember that beverages such as red wine can stain your teeth. White wine poses less of a risk to your teeth. If red wine is your go-to choice over Christmas, drinking it with food can help to reduce the risk of it staining your teeth. And as always, brush your teeth well when you do drink red wine.
5. Fill up on fruit: We’re lucky in Australia to have Christmas coincide with seasonally delicious fruit, so why not choose to fill up on fresh fruit rather than sugary desserts. If you are hosting the meal, try making only one sugary dessert and instead pair dessert with platters of fruit and a cheese plate to satisfy the sweet tooth.
6. Protect your teeth: The traditional backyard footy or cricket game are a summer staple over the Christmas season. Be sure to protect your teeth from the wishful ‘professional’ players in your family with a mouthguard.
7. Indulge in veggies: At meals, aim to fill your plate with vegetables to help you steer clear of the sweet treats available after.
8. Be careful what you bite into: Some traditional Christmas food such as lollies, pork crackling or even nuts can be hard enough to crack your teeth. Test a small piece before biting down or try dissolving hard lollies in your mouth rather than chewing.

If dental emergencies do happen over the holidays, please give your local nib Dental centre a call. We have emergency dental appointments available throughout the holiday season.