Christmas is worst time of year for dental health: 10 top tips to look after your teeth

If you’re going on a long flight it can lead to a breeding ground of bacteria in your mouth. But on top of brushing, this is what you should do for your teeth.

From how to get rid of that furry feeling after a long-haul flight to making teeth cleaning part of play for kids, the new Federal President of the Australian Dental Association says there are ways to fix the top cavity-causing culprits and still enjoy some holiday cheer.

“Children are out of routine because they are not going to school and they may be forgetting to brush their teeth” Dr Chris Sanzaro said.

“Try to establish a new routine for the long summer holidays like brush before you play.

“In the school holidays, there are not so many routines throughout the day so kids may get up, head for the TV or brekky table and often those teeth-brushing routines go down the plughole.”

ADA president Dr Chris Sanzaro suggests establishing a new routine for the long summer holidays for kids to keep them brushing. Picture: Supplied

For those heading off on a long-haul flight, Dr Sanzaro reminded travellers to take their tooth brush and a fluoride toothpaste in their hand luggage.

“It will help get rid of that furry feeling and you will have nice, fresh breath when you get off the flight.”

Once on board, he said to try to avoid fruit juices, soft drinks, cordial and wine as this can increase acidity and make teeth more sensitive.

Summer holidays means fun in the sun and more time for outdoor sports, with proper protection, of course.

This should include not only the all-important sunscreen, long sleeves, hats, sunglasses and keeping hydrated, but also a mouthguard for adventurous sorts trying new sports.

Dr Sanzaro said this was especially important for sports like mountain biking and rock climbing.

“A mouthguard is always a good idea,” he said.

“A chemist brought mouthguard is better than nothing if you can’t get into see your dentist.”

Top 10 tips for teeth:

DRIED up: decreased humidity on flights can cause dehydration resulting in a dry mouth, a breeding ground for bacteria and tooth decay.

The fix: drink lots of water.

PLANE truth: dry, stale air circulating on long haul flights coupled with lots of food and little opportunity for mouth freshens can add up to lots of food build-up and bad breath.

The fix: pack a toothbrush in hand luggage and a mini tube of fluoride toothpaste to brush after meals.

Flossing shouldn’t take a holiday as it helps to keep decay-causing bacteria away. Picture: Supplied

FLOSS forgetfulness: it is as vital to your mouth health as cleaning between the teeth. Brushing only removes debris from 60 per cent of surfaces.

The fix: pack your favourite flossing device to keep decay-causing bacteria away.

FOOD: there is a smorgasbord of hard, crunchy or sweet foods over the holidays and sometimes the sugar onslaught or surprisingly hard texture of food like pork crackling or crusty breads can result in tooth pain or a crack. Alcoholic drinks are also often packed with sugar.

The fix: sip water between your wine, mixed drink or cocktail to swish off the residual sugars left on teeth and chew hard food slowly and carefully.

Dentists often see patients with increased sensitivity after the holidays. If it’s not from tooth grinding, it can be from acidic foods and drinks. Photo: iStock

KIDS holiday mouth: Routines often go out the window.

The fix: written reminders in the bathroom or the kitchen to brush or introduce a ‘no play until teeth are clean’ rule to help create a good holiday routine.

SPORTS: on holidays people tend to venture outside their comfort zone, and that includes diving into riskier sports.

The fix: from windsurfing to water skiing, rock climbing to bungee jumping, protect teeth and gums by packing a mouthguard for yourself and the kids

SCUBA mouth: scuba diving is another sport where oral health needs to be considered. There’s a condition called tooth squeeze, or barodontalgia, where you get tooth pain from a change in pressure. Mouthpieces for snorkelling and scuba gear can also cause jaw pain.

The fix: try not to bite too hard while using them, and massage of the jaw muscles and rest of the face can help. If this doesn’t help, talk to your dentist.

Remember to pack a toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste in your hand luggage on a long-haul flight.

MOUTHS and meds: multiple medications can lead to a dry mouth as can drinking more alcohol or coffee than usual on holiday.

The fix: keep hydrated. Don’t have sweets or lollies unless they’re sugar-free. Dentists can also recommend dry mouth products.

BUMPY sleep: jet lag and disturbed sleep patterns when you return home can lead to teeth grinding. This can cause jaw pain and sometimes teeth pain, too.

The fix: If you have a night guard or night splint, take it with you, and use it on holidays.

TOUCHY teeth: dentists often see patients with increased sensitivity after holidays. If it’s not from tooth grinding, it can be from acidic foods and drinks.

The fix: try a sensitive toothpaste and if it has been a while since you had a check-up, make an appointment as it can be a sign of hidden decay.

Source: the Australian Dental Association

Originally published as Christmas is worst time of year for dental health: 10 top tips to look after your teeth