‘I’m a dentist – eat this Christmas treat after dessert to protect your teeth’

This popular snack could help neutralise acids and reduce the impact of sugary treats

A dentist has revealed a beloved Christmas treat that could actually benefit your teeth. The specialist recommended consuming this particular item following pudding for optimal results.

Christmas brings with it a season of mince pies, mulled wine, and never-ending boxes of chocolates, yet all this festive overindulgence might be wreaking havoc on your dental health. With this concern in mind, a dental professional has shared what treats can genuinely help protect your smile.

Dr Deepa Chopra, from Whites Dental, outlined how the combination of sugar and continuous snacking throughout the holiday period forms an ideal environment for enamel deterioration. But perhaps surprisingly Dr Chopra revealed that cheese could help shield your teeth.

This occurs because cheese “raises the pH level in the mouth boosts saliva production and supplies calcium and phosphate which strengthen enamel”. She explained: “A small piece of cheese after dessert can help neutralise acids and reduce the impact of sugary treats.”

Her recommendation is supported by scientific research from 2013. The study, which appeared in the General Dentistry journal, examined the plaque pH levels in youngsters aged 12 to 15 who refrained from brushing their teeth for 48 hours. The participants were provided with various dairy products to eat.

Cheese emerged as the most anticariogenic option – meaning it excelled at preventing tooth decay. The study’s authors noted: “The results showed a statistically significant change in mean plaque pH after consuming different dairy products, as the plaque pH after 30 minutes was higher in the cheese group than that of the milk and yogurt groups, both of which showed a pH toward baseline after 30 minutes.

“These results suggest that cheese has the highest anticariogenic property among the dairy products studied, and that milk and yoghurt can be considered as noncariogenic.”

Other foods that benefit teeth

Beyond cheese, Dr Chopra highlighted the advantages that turkey and nuts offer for dental health. She explained that turkey can boost oral health due to its calcium and phosphorus levels, which help preserve robust enamel.

Nevertheless, she cautioned that turkey strands frequently become trapped between teeth and must be cleared using floss or interdental brushes to avoid irritation and decay. Dr Chopra further mentioned that nuts are one of the “best” options for festive nibbling, thanks to nutrients like calcium and vitamin D that promote strong teeth and bones.