What are you hoping to find underneath your tree this Christmas? The latest piece of technology, a shiny new bike, perfume, something sparkly and expensive; or how about an electric toothbrush?

Unlike a dog or puppy an electric toothbrush makes the perfect present for all members of the family and is the gift that keeps on giving all year round.

While it may not seem the most exciting gift, you can be assured that whoever receives one will be very grateful, as the festive season can be something of a nightmare for our mouths.

One too many at the Christmas party or making your way through that box of chocolates means your teeth come under increased attack from sugar!

But fear not, using an electric toothbrush to brush your teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste is a great way to fight back; helping to remove plaque and prevent gum disease. It can also help to keep your teeth white too.

There are even electric toothbrushes specifically for children featuring cartoon characters or linking to mobile apps which help make brushing fun.

In the UK, a quarter of adults admit that they do not brush twice a day; if you only brush once a day you are 33% more likely to develop tooth decay. So there really is no excuse not to. After all, it is only two minutes.
So if you still have that last minute Christmas shopping to do, consider an electric toothbrush to literally bring a smile to a loved one this year.

Eat, drink, be merry and follow these top tips to help keep your mouth healthy this Christmas and all year round:

  1. Brush before breakfast – You’ve got up at a ridiculous hour to squeeze the turkey into you oven. The children are still asleep so it’s the perfect time to brush your teeth without interruption. Brushing before breakfast means that they teeth have not been exposed to any sugar or acid attacks and will help protect you for the day ahead.
  2. Drink through a straw – Many of us are partial to a drink at Christmas, sugary or alcoholic drinks though can be extremely harmful to our teeth; causing tooth decay and erosion. Drinking through a straw can help bypass the teeth and you still get to enjoy your favourite festive tipple.
  3. Chew sugar-free gum – After eating or drinking anything acidic it can take an hour for your mouth to return to its natural state. Chewing sugar-free gum encourages saliva production which helps this happen quicker, reducing acid attack on our teeth. It also means you have fresh breath when you get caught under the mistletoe for that cheeky kiss.
  4. Wait an hour to brush – You have finished your ambitious sized Christmas dinner the Queen has appeared on your TV and you have fallen into a ‘food coma’. This is the perfect time to give your mouth a break. Brushing your teeth within an hour can brush away tiny particles of enamel, leading to eventual dental erosion. So wait until you wake up to give your teeth a brush and then get on with the celebrations.
  5. Don’t rinse, spit! – After you have brushed your teeth rinsing your mouth out with water can rinse away the protective fluoride from your toothpaste. Don’t rinse, just spit to make sure you get the full benefit and bring a smile to your face this Christmas.

Please be responsible this Christmas, although we have used the famous headline light-heartedly do remember that a dog is for life and not just for Christmas. Make sure you think twice before giving a dog as a gift.

  

Oral Health Foundation

The Oral Health Foundation is a charity that works to improve oral health by providing education, advice, and support to millions of people every year, changing lives for the better. Our mission is to support others in achieving a healthier life through better oral health. Our vision is to live in a world where everybody has a healthy mouth and is free of dental disease. Poor oral health can have a harmful and devastating effect on a person’s life – both for their physical health and mental wellbeing. We are determined to help more people achieve good oral health and have a better quality of life. Sadly, oral disease remains common, across the life course. We are taking the challenge to reduce the harm caused by poor oral health and the responsibility to create a healthier future for everybody. We do this because we believe that everybody deserves to have good oral health. To make sure this happens, by 2024, we will:

    • Work towards decreasing the prevalence of oral disease across communities.
    • Increase the number of people accessing our help and information services.
    • Diversify our range of resources to reach more communities.
    • Successfully campaign for policies which help people achieve healthier lives.
    • Generate new and nurture existing income streams that enable us to deliver our charitable objectives.

We are going to achieve success by:

    • Running awareness campaigns like National Smile Month and Mouth Cancer Action Month.
    • Giving anybody who needs it direct support through our Dental Helpline.
    • Influencing policy on subjects like dental access, sugar, and tobacco.
    • Providing consumer advice on oral health care products and working alongside manufacturers to make sure products do what they claim to do.
    • Creating resources and information that communicates positive oral health messages.
    • Working alongside others who share our passion for health and wellbeing.

To find out more about us, visit our website at https://www.dentalhealth.org/

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