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Oral Health Tips for a Tooth-Friendly Christmas

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Oral Health Tips for a Tooth-Friendly Christmas

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Top Tips from your Cairns dentist

‘Tis the season to be jolly – and for many of us, that means indulging in our favourite Christmas foods and drinks. However, while the festive season is a perfect time to relax and enjoy those ‘naughty’ treats we might avoid at other times of the year, being mindful of your oral health can help to avoid dental disasters over the holiday period.

Check out our Christmas oral health tips to keep your teeth healthy and strong while celebrating with your favourite festive foods.

1. Don’t let your oral health routine slip

Taking a break from our usual routines over the holiday period can be a welcome change from work or school. However, one part of our daily routines that shouldn’t be left behind is our oral health. In fact, it’s even more important to keep up with your daily brushing and flossing over the Christmas period, given that most of us will be tucking into more indulgent foods than normal.

Whatever your plans for the holidays involve, it’s vital to make a point of maintaining your usual oral hygiene practice, including brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing at least once a day.

If you’re heading off on a vacation over Christmas, consider swapping your electric toothbrush for a manual one that’s easier to transport, even for the lightest of packers.

2. Be sugar-savvy

Indulging in a few sugar-laden treats over the Christmas period is totally fine – but taking care not to go overboard can help protect your teeth from a slew of dental problems. Sugar build-up can cause bacteria to develop on teeth, leading to issues such as cavities and tooth decay.

If you can’t resist the sugary foods on offer, it’s a good idea to avoid too much snacking between meals. By consuming sweet foods during mealtimes – such as for dessert – your mouth will produce more saliva which can neutralise excess sugars.

If you can’t always brush your teeth after eating sugar-rich foods, have a quick rinse of your mouth with water. This can help to wash away sugar particles and avoid them from building up on the surface of your teeth.

3. Skip the super-hard foods

Unfortunately, some of our favourite Christmas foods can be bad news for our teeth. For example, foods such as candy canes, Christmas brittle, toffees, and candied nuts have very hard textures, which can put extra pressure on our teeth when chewing or biting into them.

Eating hard foods like these can result in damage to your teeth, including broken or chipped teeth which will require emergency dental care – not ideal when you’re trying to enjoy the holidays!

While it’s best to opt for softer foods where possible, if you do feel tempted by a harder snack, take extra care and consume in small bites.

4. Avoid overindulging in acidic foods

Acidic foods can weaken the protective layer of enamel that covers the surface of our teeth, leaving them exposed to a wide range of oral health issues. As acid-rich food and drinks include things like citrus fruits, red wine, and fizzy drinks, you may find you’re consuming more of them over Christmas.

It’s advisable to minimise your consumption of acidic foods to protect your teeth. However, if you are consuming acid-rich food and drinks, there are a few ways to help combat the damaging effects of acid:

  • Use a straw when drinking acidic beverages
  • Drink water after consuming acidic foods to help wash away bacteria
  • Chew sugar-free gum after eating to remove bacteria
  • After eating or drinking acidic products, wait at least 30 minutes before brushing your teeth – this avoids brushing away the acid-weakened enamel

5. Enjoy alcohol in moderation

Whether it’s a festive mulled wine or a post-dinner brandy, many of us enjoy a Christmas tipple over the holidays. However, taking care to minimise your alcohol intake is good for your teeth as well as your general health.

Alcohol increases the risk of dental health issues such as gum disease, as well as being acidic, which can weaken the tooth enamel. While it’s fine to indulge in a drink or two, keeping your festive alcohol consumption to a healthy level will help to keep teeth protected and strong.

Rinsing your mouth out with water after drinking alcoholic beverages can help to wash away acid and bacteria to avoid these substances building up on your teeth.

If you need to book in for a dental appointment over the Christmas period, contact Cairns Dental Boutique today.

 

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Dr . Trinidad Jacial

DENTIST

I, Dr. Trinidad Jacial preferably Trini, was born and raised in Santiago, Chile and completed my Bachelor of Dental Surgery with Honours & as dux of my class at Universidad Mayor in 2011.

Following my Bachelor degree, I completed my Postgraduate studies in Doctor of Clinical Dentistry (Prosthodontics) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Cariology and Aesthetic Restorations from Universidad De Los Andes.

Thereafter, I have gained extensive experience in different aspects of dentistry, working in the private and public sectors.

In 2016, I decided to take an extended holiday to Australia and which was once supposed to be a limited-time adventure turned into a permanent move when I fell in love with the people and beauty of Cairns. 

Since then, I have worked hard in transferring my studies and to be able to practice as a registered dentist in Australia, while still working and being active in the dental industry. 

With a wealth of knowledge and passion for what I do, I am commitment to providing exceptional dental care which is matched by my dedication to create a warm and welcoming environment for my patients. I believe listening to and understanding my patients is fundamental, and that education is the key to maintaining good oral health.

Restoring patient’s confidence, with a healthy smile with perfect aesthetics and functionality is one of the most rewarding things for me.

In addition to being a successful dentist, I primarily am a devoted wife and mother of two beautiful girls and a large fur baby. I enjoy dancing to Latin-American music every time I get a chance

When you come to see me, you can expect compassionate treatment with a personalised approach. I very much look forward to meeting you and building a great rapport with my patients.

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Dr Ellinor Altzar

DENTIST

I grew up in a small town in the middle of Sweden. My parents loved travelling and were always encouraging me to explore the world, which led me to migrate to Australia in 2010.

I am a calm, caring individual, and I have always known that I wanted to work within the healthcare industry. I have a strong passion to help people in overcoming their dental anxieties, whilst providing gentle treatment and working with them towards achieving their goals. One of the best aspects of my job is to see my patients’ happy faces when they realise that they can smile confidently again, giving them improved overall health and wellbeing. I enjoy building trust and a positive rapport with my patients and always look forward to meeting new people.

In 2020, I completed a Bachelor of Dental Surgery at James Cook University, gaining a wide variety of knowledge and experience. I particularly love treating children as well as providing aesthetic treatments that restore your perfect smile, although I do enjoy all aspects of dentistry.

As the newest member of the team at Cairns Dental Boutique I look forward to meeting you and welcoming you into my chair to see how I can assist you with your dental needs.

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Dr Roy Jindal

DIRECTOR AND PRINCIPAL DENTIST

Hi, I am Dr Puneet Roy Jindal, but please feel free to call me Dr Roy, Dr Jindal or just Roy. Thank you so much for visiting our website and please allow me this opportunity to introduce myself.

I grew up in the beautiful city of Chandigarh, India. My parents are biologists and knew early on that I had the potential to work in the health care industry. Over time, I realised this as well and selected a career in dentistry, a profession that allowed me to work with my hands and focus on attention to detail.

After completing a Bachelor of Dental Surgery and Masters of Public Health from the University of Wollongong, in 2006 I started practicing as a Dental Surgeon in the tropical city of Cairns. My passion with dentistry has continued to drive me to pursue further goals in the profession; I completed my Primary Exams in the Royal Australian College of Dental Surgeons, and then I spent time at Cairns James Cook University teaching and supervising dental students in their final year while also mentoring first-year students.

I’m passionate about dentistry today as I was 12+ years ago when I started my first job. Seeing patients achieve their oral health goals fuels my commitment to the dental profession, and I look forward to many more years of turning dream smiles into a reality.

Today, I call Cairns my home. It’s where my wife, Vandana, and my two boys, Veer and Viyaan, live, work and play. In my free time, I play soccer with the children, cook for my family and get involved with the local cricket team.

On behalf of the professional team at Cairns Dental Boutique, I look forward to helping our patients into the future and welcoming you and your family to our friendly dental clinic.