Eat, drink and be wary: Top London Dentist reveals festive treats that won’t harm your smile

However, with dental waiting lists at an all-time high and likely to grow with festive indulgence, Dr Deepa, Principal Dentist for London based dental clinic, Whites Dental, has compiled a helpful guide for the top festive treats that won’t impact your oral health this Christmas.

“It’s almost Christmas, which inevitably means tables filled with mince pies, chocolates, sugary bubblies and other festive delights.

Nevertheless, seasonal treats come with a sobering reality: the threat to dental health. According to NHS England, more than 30,000 children and 70,000 adults were admitted to A&E with tooth decay last year. The British Dental Association furthermore highlights a widening 21.6% gap in the oral hygiene of children living in affluent vs economically deprived areas – an urgent cry for the nation to take better care of its teeth, even with temptations all around.

It's only natural to indulge – but being mindful of your food and drink choices doesn’t mean sacrificing the magic of Christmas. In fact, there are plenty of festive options out there that are both kinder to teeth and worthy of celebratory cheer.

Festive foods to smile about

1. Cheese, please!

Cheeseboards are having a moment on social media, with charcuterie and cheese platters gathering millions of views on platforms like TikTok. Cheese – particularly hard varieties like cheddar – is a tooth-friendly festive option, rich in calcium and capable of neutralising enamel-fighting acidity in the mouth. If you fancy something a

little sweeter, you can always add some dried fruit like apricots or figs, which still give that festive indulgence whilst being much less sugary than Christmas candy.

2. Keep it sweet

If sweets are a must, there are plenty of brands with reduced and zero-sugar options, like Jealous Sweets’ sugar-free love bears, which look and taste just like regular gummy bears. There are also plenty of sugar-free, keto recipes online, for those who are handy in the kitchen to make delicious chocolate frosted yule logs without the dental guilt. In fact, home baking even with sugar is a great way of reducing the impact, without the extra cost that can be associated with store-bought sugar free. That said, brands like Gúllon make chocolate sandwich biscuits with no added sugar and you can always opt for sugar free Belgian cookies for that festive feel, paired with a spiced hot chocolate for an added calcium boost.

3. Gingerbread season

Gingerbread is another key flavour this season, appearing in everything from the latest McVitie’s Digestives offering to the M&S build your own gingerbread house. While still sugary, treats that contain ginger not only look and feel festive but can aid in digestion and boast mild anti-inflammatory properties, which can help to prevent things like acid reflux capable of breaking down enamel. Enjoy in moderation and rinse with water to reduce sugar residue afterwards.

4. Go nuts!

Nuts like almonds, walnuts and hazelnuts are another staple festive choice. Low in sugar and high in healthy fats, they can naturally clean teeth by encouraging saliva production. Add them to your seasonal snack tables or use them to top your favourite Christmas dishes for added strength-boosting crunch.

Sip smart

Of course, Christmas time is just as much about that special drink, whether alcoholic or non-alcoholic. Festive drinks are, in fact, getting a makeover, with non-alcoholic mulled wine brands like Luscombe’s cherry and hibiscus option leading the charge. These drinks are much less sugary than traditional wine, making them a gentler choice for your teeth than your regular boozy tipple.

There’s are also plenty of creative spins on the classics on the supermarket shelves this year, with Tesco’s low-alcohol Elderflower and Blood Orange Spritzi drinks or similar alternatives being kinder to teeth owing to their natural flavourings and lower sugar content, without compromising on fizz or fun. If wine is more your thing, you can always counteract any negative effects with the right cheese pairing. Cheese can help to protect against some of the acidity – and if you opt for something like sparkling water between sips, you will neutralise acids even more, protecting your enamel.

Sugar and spice – in moderation

Whilst looking for healthier alternatives is always advisable wherever you can, for both physical and dental health, it is ok to indulge occasionally. After all, it is Christmas! Unless advised otherwise by your dentist, a little sugar won’t ruin your smile.

Just make sure you maintain good overall oral hygiene, brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and flossing or using interdental brushes to remove any plaque and remnants of Christmas food from between teeth. Chewing on sugar-free gum after meals can also help by encouraging saliva production and then there’s the number one go-to: drinking water to rinse away acid and sugar.”

Dr Deepa, Principal Dentist for leading London dental practice, Whites Dental.