We are days out from living our best Christmas lives, aka eating ALL of the food and getting day drunk. However, while you’re busy planning your festive feast, dentists across the country are huddled together, sweating bullets and clutching their dental tools like they’re preparing for battle.
So let’s dive into the top foods that have your dentist on high alert this holiday season. Spoiler alert: it’s not the salad.
The worst Christmas foods for your teeth
Pork crackling
First up on the naughty list is none other than pork crackling. It’s crispy, it’s delicious, and it’s a dental disaster waiting to happen. Dr. Ben Hargreave from Dental Boutique Sydney has seen it all and warned, “Every year we have people fracture teeth from eating pork crackling”.
So while you’re munching away, just remember you are one loud-as-fuck-crunch away from an emergency dental visit. For someone who HATES loud chewing with a passion, I’m happy that people will be more on edge as they eat their crackle.
Shellfish
Next up, we have shellfish. Whether it’s prawns or oysters, apparently these festive delicacies can pose a serious threat to your dental health if you’re not careful. Those hard shells can lead to unexpected chips and cracks — definitely not the kind of holiday surprise you want.
Sweets and chocolate
Can we have ANYTHING good at this point?? Apparently not. The ultimate holiday/life staples are basically tiny parcels of joy wrapped in sugar-coated doom according to dentists.
Sure, they’re delightful until you wake up on Boxing Day with a toothache that “feels like a SoundCloud DJ is throwing a rave in your mouth” (a direct quote from my friend who had one last Christmas).
Christmas pudding
And finally, we have Christmas pudding — the dense, sticky dessert that looks festive but acts like a sugar bomb for your teeth. It’s packed with dried fruits and sugar, making it the perfect candidate for turning your smile into a cavity convention.
This one isn’t that hard of a loss because who actually likes Christmas pudding? Yes, I am calling you out and yes, you do need better taste — at least for your teeth’s sake.
At-home remedies for your Christmas teeth disasters
So, what do you do when you’ve ignored all of my warnings and now find yourself with a cooked tooth? Fear not! Dr. Hargreave has some at-home remedies to keep you from becoming a holiday horror story:
For toothaches
- Clove oil: Mix clove oil with olive oil and apply it to the painful area with a cotton bud.
- Please don’t listen to your drunk uncle: Despite what your tipsy uncle might suggest after too many beers, whisky is NOT an effective remedy — unless you’re trying to forget the pain.
For gum inflammation
- Warm saltwater rinse: Gargle with warm saltwater for 30-60 seconds to soothe those angry gums. It’s like giving your mouth a mini spa day.
- Hydrogen peroxide rinse: A diluted rinse can help reduce inflammation and might even whiten those pearly whites.
For broken teeth or loose fillings
- Temporary filling material: You can actually find this at your local supermarket, so maybe pick some up while you’re doing your Christmas shopping, just in case.
- Denture glue: If you’re in a pinch, denture glue is a safer alternative than superglue — seriously, don’t even think about it! I fear I must remind you that your mouth isn’t a craft project.
Don’t worry no one is asking you to be completely perfect these holidays — I will still be eating my weight in prawns, no but seriously even dentists indulge during silly season.
“This is the one day of the year that you can eat lollies for breakfast like we do in my childhood home. Even dentists do this,” Dr. Hargreave revealed.
He just wanted to reminded people that “mulled wine is not the same as mouthwash”. LMAO dentist got jokesss.
