Christmas means having the kids home for school vacations, last-minute Christmas shopping, and spending time with the family. Did you know that Christmas is one of the worst times of year for dental emergency, like cracking your teeth on a hard food or losing a tooth from being hit in the mouth?

Maintain oral hygiene.
Even if it’s the holidays, we shouldn’t neglect our dental hygiene regimen, especially because we’re eating more tooth-damaging food and drinks!

Brush and floss twice daily. If you’ve consumed sugary foods, brush more throughout the day. After meals and snacks, drink water. This will keep you hydrated and clean your mouth of dirt, sugar, and acids.

Teeth aren’t tools.
Don’t bite that package, bottle lid, or sticky tape!

When you’re busy and excited about the holidays, it’s tempting to use your teeth to open packages. If you’re in a rush to make lunch or wrap gifts and don’t have scissors, don’t use your teeth—use scissors instead!

Doing so provides a positive example for the youngsters, who may emulate you using your teeth to open items. Nothing is worse than a painful dental injury during an exciting moment like unwrapping gifts!

Mature man in striped shirt caressing hurting tooth DRINK RESPONSIBLY
Many of us celebrate Christmas with a few drinks, but drinking too much can raise your risk of falling (followed by a trip to the emergency dentist). Red wine can discolour teeth, and excessive alcohol use has been linked to oral health issues like oral cancer and gum disease.

This Christmas, consume your favourite alcoholic beverages in moderation and rinse your teeth with water to remove acids and food particles.

HARD FOODS
Candy canes, one of Christmas’s most recognisable emblems, often break teeth when eaten into. Hard candies like candy canes should be sucked rather than chewed. This is especially crucial for your kids, who may want to devour their gifts (and damage a tooth or their gums in the process).

Other Christmas goodies, such as:

Nuts
Fruit-mince pies
Hard candy gingerbread house decorations (toffees, etc.)
Pork rind
Pitted Fruit (stone fruit like cherries, nectarines, olives etc.)
Hardbread
However, your menu may include several celebratory favourites that are less prone to damage your teeth, such as:

Cheeses (Great at reducing acid levels in the mouth)
Carrots for dipping
Pudding/Custard
Roast vegetables and meat (beware of bones!)

Emergency preparedness
Knowing how to handle a dental emergency during the holidays is vital. While professional dental treatment should be sought as soon as feasible, acting quickly at home can reduce pain and improve tooth survival.

See an emergency dentist if you have any of the following:

Bad toothaches
Face Swelling
Lost Fillings
Soft-Tissue Injuries
Lost teeth
Dentures
Feeling unprepared for a dental emergency? Review dental emergency procedures.