After a rollercoaster of a year, make the most of the festive season with those around you. For many of us, the festive season revolves around delicious food and a few glasses of alcohol. While food and drink is a great way to bond with family during this time of the year, don’t allow it to make your dental care less of a priority.
Browse our advice on how to maintain a healthy smile during the festive season below.
What Food and Drink Causes Teeth Staining?
A balanced diet is key to good health, meaning that treats are still fine to be enjoyed, but in proportion. Therefore the list of food and drinks below can be enjoyed in moderation alongside a healthy dental care routine to limit teeth staining.
- Red wine
- Tea
- Coffee
- Fruit juice
- Curry
- Soy Sauce
- Tomato sauces
- Balsamic vinegar
- Berries
- Beetroot
- Sweets which also make your tongue change colour
How Can I Lessen Teeth Stains?
Food and drink which cause teeth staining are not always unhealthy, for example, berries. Blackberries and blueberries are rich in antioxidants so should be enjoyed. But to lessen the risk of teeth staining, looking for alternative foods which also provide antioxidants without the staining can be helpful.
Using a straw can help to block contact between drinks which are prone to staining your teeth. For times when a straw is unavailable, swallow your drink swiftly. Try to avoid allowing it to linger in your mouth.
After consuming food or drinks which stain teeth, swirl water around your mouth immediately after. We recommend waiting at least 30-60 minutes before brushing your teeth after eating something acidic, as it could harm your teeth’s enamel.
As always, a dental care routine will help to maintain a healthy smile during the festive season and beyond. If you wear braces, take care to learn how to use your interdental brushes effectively for a brace cleaning routine which doesn’t miss any food debris.
Which Foods Will Benefit My Oral Health?
There are many foods which can benefit your oral health, by clearing your mouth of bacteria and your teeth from acid. Thereby helping your teeth to stay strong!
Dairy products, including yogurt, cheese and milk encourage your mouth to produce more saliva, which helps to protect your teeth. Many dairy products are also high in protein and calcium, which strengthens your teeth and yogurts in particular may contain probiotics which benefit your digestive system. Just remember to opt for sugar free yogurt!
There are lots of healthy options for snack replacements, which help to encourage saliva production. Leafy greens offer vitamins and minerals which keep tooth enamel healthy. The texture of celery helps to keep your teeth clean by scraping food leftovers and bacteria off of your teeth. Carrots, apples, nuts and lean proteins are also healthy choices.
Maintaining a Healthy Smile During Festive Season
During this festive season and into the new year, continue to make your oral health a top priority. By keeping a routine of caring for your teeth and gums, you will find it easier to maintain a healthy smile. In addition to following our advice above, don’t forget to attend your orthodontist appointments to ensure that your teeth are progressing with their dental braces.
To speak to a member of the Dulwich Orthodontics team, you can get in touch by calling 020 8265 9797 today.