The festive season is all about good food, family time and celebrations. Unfortunately, it is also one of the busiest times of year for dental emergencies. Between sugary treats, busy schedules and festive stress, oral health can easily take a back seat until something goes wrong.
Each December, the Aurora Dental teams across Corsham, Chippenham, Swindon and Devizes see an increase in urgent appointments. With a few simple precautions, many festive dental problems can be avoided.
Here is our festive guide to keeping your smile healthy and avoiding dental emergencies this Christmas.
1. Don’t Use Your Teeth as Tools
Hard-to-open packaging is everywhere at Christmas, but your teeth are not designed to open bottles, tear tape or crack nuts. Using them this way can quickly result in a dental emergency.
This can lead to:
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Chipped teeth
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Cracks and fractures
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Lost fillings or crowns
If something does go wrong, our emergency dentist teams in Swindon and across Wiltshire are here to help. However, prevention is always better than treatment.
2. Be Careful With Festive Treats
Many traditional Christmas treats are harder on your teeth than you might expect. The most common causes of broken teeth during December include:
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Hard boiled sweets
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Sticky toffees and caramels
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Nuts, especially when still in their shells
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Crackling and very crispy roast foods
Where possible, choose softer options and avoid chewing ice from festive drinks.
3. Watch Sugar and Alcohol Intake
Sweets, chocolates, mulled wine and prosecco are part of the fun, but they also increase sugar and acid levels in the mouth. This raises the risk of:
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Tooth decay
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Sensitivity
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Gum irritation
Drinking water between sugary or alcoholic drinks helps rinse the mouth and reduce acid damage.
4. Stick to Your Routine
Late nights, parties and travel can make it easy to forget your oral care routine, but this is when it matters most.
Try to maintain:
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Brushing twice a day
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Using fluoride toothpaste
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Daily flossing or interdental cleaning
If you are staying away from home, packing a small travel kit can help you stay consistent.
5. Invisalign and Dental Implant Care Over Christmas
If you are having Invisalign treatment in Wiltshire, remember to:
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Keep aligners in their case rather than wrapping them in a napkin
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Wear them for the recommended number of hours
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Brush before reinserting them after meals
For patients with dental implants in Wiltshire:
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Avoid very hard or sticky foods
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Maintain careful oral hygiene
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Follow all post-treatment advice, especially if your implant is recent
Good care now helps prevent discomfort and complications later.
6. Know Where to Go in a Dental Emergency
Even with good habits, accidents can still happen. If you need urgent care over the festive period, Aurora Dental offers emergency dentist services in Swindon and throughout Wiltshire.
Saving our details in your phone can make a stressful situation much easier to manage.
Final Thoughts
The festive season should be filled with enjoyment, not toothache. With mindful eating, a consistent routine and support from your local Corsham dentist, Devizes dentist, Chippenham dentist or Swindon dentist, you can protect your smile throughout Christmas.
Whether you are celebrating with friends or keeping things cosy at home, your teeth deserve some festive care too. If you need advice, a check-up or emergency dental support, our friendly teams are here to help.
Get in Touch
We’re proud to serve patients across Wiltshire, with clinics in Chippenham, Corsham, Swindon, and Devizes.
If you have concerns about your dental health or want to learn more about our membership plans and finance options, our caring team is ready to help.
Email: [email protected]
Call: 01249 846915
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