10 Festive Oral Health Tips Sheffield

The festive season has arrived! We don’t know about you, but here at one80 Dental, we’re getting very excited that this magical time of year has come back around. We hope all our patients are keeping well and that this Christmas promises to be a little better than the last.

Christmas is undoubtedly a time to relax and indulge, but it’s important to keep on top of your oral hygiene so you can go into 2022 feeling fantastic about your teeth. Here are our 10 festive oral health tips, to keep you smiling this Christmas time.

Try not to stress

With all the family together under one roof, it can be very easy for stress levels to reach an all time high, especially if you’re in charge of the cooking! Stress can lead to tooth grinding and jaw clenching, which can be detrimental for your dental health. Whilst grinding causes tooth wear, clenching can cause unpleasant symptoms like headaches and jaw ache. If you’re feeling the festive pressure, reach out to a family member for a bit of support or try to take some time for yourself.

If you continue to experience grinding and clenching after Christmas is over, we recommend making an appointment with us at one80 Dental, if you’re looking for a dentist in Totley. We can help treat this with solutions including behavioral management to phase out habits like grinding and clenching in the future.

Don’t skip a brushing or flossing session

Whether you’ve been naughty or nice with your oral hygiene routine all year, you shouldn’t neglect one of your two times daily brushing sessions, or forget to use your interdental brushes. Routinely brushing plays an important role in effective oral health, especially after sugary meals, helping to wash away bacteria that might otherwise feed on those sugars. It’s worth noting that the biggest factor for the manifestation of cavities is the time you allow sugars to remain in your mouth.

Meanwhile, flossing makes sure any tenacious food particles don’t remain in between your teeth, causing bad breath and elevating the possibility of decay. Turkey is a particular Christmas culprit food that can easily become lodged in your teeth, so make an effort to commit to flossing after your Christmas turkey dinner, and after those Boxing Day turkey sandwiches!

Stay hydrated

Christmas can be a time when it’s easy to end up having a little more alcohol than the recommended amount. Make sure you’re drinking plenty of water between each alcoholic drink, particularly if you’re a fan of high acid drinks such as white wine and prosecco, as these are notorious for causing erosion. If you’re worried about the effects of drinking alcoholic drinks with a high acid content, you could always opt for drinks such as gin and beer which are two of the least acidic drinks out there.

Remember that fizzy drink and fruit juices can also be no friend to your teeth, particularly those high in sugar. Check labels before you purchase drinks, and keep the trusty H2O by your side this Christmas period!

Pop an electric toothbrush on your Christmas list

Still stuck for what to ask for from you friends and family? If you’re still using a manual toothbrush, we strongly recommend making the switch to their electric counterparts. There is overwhelming evidence that electric toothbrushes remove plaque more effectively than manual toothbrushes, thanks to their oscillating heads. Many designs also include a timer, letting you know when your 2 minutes are up, and warn you when you’re brushing too hard.

Failing to brush for the recommended time can result in some of your tooth surfaces being neglecting and over brushing regularly can go on to cause receding gums and sensitive teeth, as areas of tooth matter not covered by enamel become exposed to erosion. It’s always best to adopt a preventive mindset when it comes to such problems. However, if you are suffering from problems such as gum recession, here in Totely we’re highly experienced in reversing receding gums, using some of the most advanced techniques available, and an excellent level of clinical practice.

Remember to smile!

Christmas should be all about fun and enjoyment. Smiling releases serotonin, the chemical responsible for happiness and wellbeing.

If you’re unhappy with your teeth and feel that you’re holding back from smiling as a consequence, why not consider cosmetic dentistry in Sheffield in 2022? Here at one80 Dental we offer bespoke cosmetic dental treatment, from teeth whitening to give your teeth a sparkle, to cosmetic bonding and veneers, to address misshapen, cracked and chipped teeth.

Whatever it is you dislike about your teeth, we’re positive we can help give you a smile you feel proud of wearing in the future.

Stick to chewing food, not things

If you’ve previously used your teeth to perform party tricks like opening a beer bottle with your teeth, we can’t stress how important it is to break this habit right away. Teeth might be strong, but they’re not tools. Using them to bite or chew on foreign object is likely to lead to cracks and chips and in severe cases you may even need an emergency appointment.

Look no further for a dentist in Totley, than one80 Dental. We offer free consultations with a treatment coordinator, who can answer your questions, to help you make an informed decision about whether or not to proceed with a specific treatment.