I’m a dentist and here’s why you should eat cheese and chocolate this Christmas

CHRISTMAS is just around the corner and with it comes delicious treats for us to indulge in. While you might be tempted to put down the chocolate and cheese for fear of gaining weight or ruining your teeth, one expert has said you should enjoy a festive treat. Dr Navi Sangha, dentist at Bupa Dental […]

CHRISTMAS is just around the corner and with it comes delicious treats for us to indulge in.

While you might be tempted to put down the chocolate and cheese for fear of gaining weight or ruining your teeth, one expert has said you should enjoy a festive treat.

Getty

If you love tucking into a cheese board over Christmas then experts say you should chomp away – all in moderation of course[/caption]

Dr Navi Sangha, dentist at Bupa Dental Care said forward planning can ensure that you have the tastiest Christmas yet.

If you love nothing more than getting stuck into a cheeseboard over the festive season, then Dr Sangha said that this is fine – as long as you consume it within moderation.

He explained how both cheese and nuts can be a great choice for oral health.

“Cheese has a number of benefits. Cheese helps balance the pH level in your mouth, which means less harmful acid, more cleansing saliva, and as a consequence, fewer cavities. A perfect accompaniment after your Christmas pudding!”

“Nuts are also a good choice if you are looking for a healthy snack during the run up to Christmas. 

“My top tip here would be to choose an unsalted nut to nibble on, like almonds. Nuts are a great source of fibre, contain various nutrients and healthy fats.”

But if you’ve had enough of the cheese board and you’re after something sweet, Dr Sangha said you can still indulge, but that you should switch from sweets to chocolate.

Dr Sangha explained: “Choosing chocolate over sweets is a wise choice.

“Sweets, particularly the gummy variety, are almost entirely made up of sugar, and their consistency means that they can stick to your teeth, putting you at risk of cavities. Dark chocolate is the perfect choice for a treat.

“It has less sugar than white or milk chocolate, and the consistency means that it will not lodge in your teeth and cause potential issues with your oral health in the future.”

FANCY A TIPPLE?

While we know to eat both chocolate and cheese to have a Merry Christmas, it’s also key we know what drink we can have that wont ruin our teeth.

If you want to stick to a healthy smile, then Dr Sangha says you should try and limit the amount of champagne and prosecco you drink as this can disolve tooth enamel due to the high acidic level.

This is turn can increase your risk of tooth erosion and the same goes for fizzy drinks such as cola and lemonade, he said.

“My advice would be to limit your intake of the festive fizz or choose a low-carb beer, as these beverages have the highest water content and lowest acidity, so are kinder on your teeth.

“If you are planning to stick with the fizz this Christmas, drink a glass of water in between the prosecco and champagne. The water will wash away the sugar and acid from in or around your mouth”, he said.

Dr Sangha said you should also try and keep your mixers varied.

Dr Sangha added: “Many of us enjoy a pre-dinner aperitif, but rather than selecting a whisky and coke, if you switch your paring to a vodka and a light tonic, for example, you will be making a better choice for your teeth.

“If you can, select sparkling water as a mixer, or as your drink, for the gentlest option for your teeth.

“But remember that carbonated drinks which are sugar free, can still lead to enamel erosion and future problems.”