Being conscious of your sugar intake at Christmas

During Christmas time and the festive period, it’s not uncommon for us to let our healthy eating habits slip, swapping sugar-free options for chocolate and sweets. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the best news for our oral health and it can be hard to keep track of any hidden sugars that are disguised in our festive feasts. From mince pies and cranberry sauce to your daily dose of advent calendar chocolate, it’s this time of year when your teeth can become the most vulnerable to tooth decay.

Hidden sugars in unexpected places

Harmful sugars can be found in unlikely places and, therefore, when we overindulge at Christmas time, we are putting an increased strain on our teeth. Sometimes, we are unaware of the sugar amounts that can be found in festive alcoholic drinks, as well as some sauces and savoury treats which are likely to be causing more harm than good. Sugar amounts in some traditional foods include:

• Glass of dry white wine – 1.5g per 175ml
• Baileys Irish Cream – 19.5g per 100ml
• Sherry – 9.5g per 100ml
• Mince pie – 28g per 100g
• Christmas pudding – 41g per 100g slice

Perhaps try a savoury snack instead!

Rather than treating yourself to snacks that are high in sugar, you could perhaps opt for savoury snacks such as cheese or nuts. Choosing to snack on a cheeseboard rather than a chocolate gateau could in fact be beneficial for your teeth; this type of food is known to reduce levels of acid in the mouth after we eat, therefore reducing the risk of further tooth decay.

Treat yourself in moderation

There’s no reason why you should refrain from enjoying traditional food and drink around Christmas time, but you should potentially try to eat things in moderation in order to maintain a good level of oral health. You should also ensure that you are drinking plenty of water, which will not only be beneficial for your teeth, but also your hangover!

Stick to your oral health routine

Make sure you don’t let your teeth brushing standards slip over the festive period. If you know you are eating more foods containing harmful sugars, you might want to increase your brushing to three times per day and also include the use of mouthwash or interdental cleaning. The optimum moment to brush is after every meal, although you should try and leave around half an hour after eating before you brush.

For more dental advice you can view our information section here. Alternatively, if you feel your dentist has failed to treat tooth decay in your own mouth, you may be entitled to make a claim for compensation. Call the Dental Law Partnership today on 0800 274 6387.