As Aussies settle in for their Christmas celebrations — whether they have driven the country to be with loved ones, are spending the holidays camping or simply staying at home — many will be looking forward to a delicious feast with all the trimmings including shellfish, roasted meats and a generous helping of sweet treats.
But partygoers are being cautioned to do one thing before tucking into a delicious feast — take care while they eat. Dentists nationwide are bracing for an increase in dental emergencies with the festive season often bringing a surge in toothaches and dental mishaps.
Dr Ben Hargreave, principal dentist at Dental Boutique Sydney, told Yahoo News Australia that dental mishaps can cost anywhere from $50 to $6,000. “It depends on what’s broken,” he said, adding a full replacement of a tooth will cost more if it’s broken in half.
Aussies are urged to take extra care while indulging this Christmas. Source: Getty
Most common dental injuries during Christmas and New Year
The most common types of injuries according to Hargreave include broken teeth from indulging in hard foods like pork cracking and shellfish.
“Every year we have people fracture teeth from eating pork crackling,” he said, adding that the meat can end up being “very expensive”.
Given most dentists are closed over the holiday period, Hargreave stressed the importance of taking extra care when it comes to your teeth. “Not a lot of dentists are open during the break, which is even more important to then look after your teeth during this period and be more careful, as access to dental care may be limited,” he said.
“To keep yourself safe take smaller bites,” Hargreave suggested. “If you have had heavy dental work on one side try to avoid that side,” he said.
Excessive consumption of sweets, chocolate and Christmas pudding also leaves many with toothaches.
How to ease a festive toothache
For those who find themselves in dental distress while businesses are closed, Dr Sam, principal dentist at Dental Boutique in the Mornington Peninsula recommends several home remedies.
For toothaches, Dr Sam suggests using a cotton bud to apply a mixture of clove oil diluted with olive oil.
For swelling in the gum, it’s best to rinse with warm salt water for 30-60 seconds.
Broken teeth or loose dental work can be fixed with “temporary filling material” which is available at supermarkets. “Avoid using superglue, as it’s toxic and unsafe for oral use,” he warned.
Despite the warning about dental emergencies, Dr Hargreave acknowledges that Christmas is a time for indulging. “This is the one day of the year that you can eat lollies for breakfast like we do in my childhood home. Even dentists do this,’ he said.
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