With Christmas and New Year just around the corner, many of us will be looking forward to catching up with friends, hitting the dance floor and enjoying a few drinks. Many of us enjoy a drink from time to time, but often, beverages can be even more harmful for the teeth than festive treats and snacks.
Here are a few tips to protect your teeth from damage and erosion this festive period:
Look out for sugar content
When you’re stocking up in time for Christmas, take a minute to look at labels and try to choose drinks that contain less sugar. Go for sugar-free or diet mixers and cordials and avoid buying drinks, such as alcopops, which contain a huge amount of sugar. If people like spirit-based drinks, buy a bottle of the spirit and create your own cocktails or jugs with sugar-free fizzy drinks or diluted fruit juice.
Take care with wine
As wine doesn’t taste sweet, many people assume that it’s not bad for your teeth, but wine is actually one of the worst things you can drink for your teeth; this is because it is very acidic and this contributes to erosion of the protective enamel. If you like a glass of wine at Christmas time, try to ensure you drink at mealtimes and consider diluting your wine with a small amount of water; drink water or milk afterwards to neutralise the acids in your mouth.
Watch our for cider and flavoured beers
It can be very easy to forget about the calorie and sugar content of alcoholic drinks, especially if you’ve just eaten a big meal; however, alcoholic drinks often contain a lot of sugar and a large number of calories. You may be surprised to find out that a pint of cider contains almost the recommended daily sugar intake for the average person, while a pint of beer contains the same number of calories as a slice of chocolate cake.
If you are planning to party or enjoy a few drinks this Christmas, try to drink in moderation, dilute drinks and alternative alcohol with glasses of water; always wait an hour after eating or drinking to brush your teeth.
Tags: City of Leeds, sugar and teeth, sugary beverages, teeth health Leeds
