Christmas is traditionally a time for indulging your taste buds. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying some festive delicacies, but it’s always good to spare a thought for your teeth and gums at this time of year. When it’s Christmas, we tend to think that we can get away with eating whatever we like, whenever we like, but this attitude can be damaging for our dental health. If you’re keen to be more health-conscious this year, here are some tooth-friendly foods to throw into the festive mix:

1. Scrambled eggs: if you’re looking to make a healthy start to the day, go for scrambled eggs on wholemeal bread. Eggs are a good source of protein and adding milk and butter will increase your calcium intake. This is also a low fat, low sugar option, which should keep you feeling full until lunchtime. If you’re not a fan of scrambled eggs, you could also go for boiled or poached eggs.
2. Porridge: before you break open that sugary breakfast cereal, read the nutritional information. If you’re treating yourself to a minced pie and some Christmas pudding later in the day, you don’t need any extra sugar. Porridge is a great breakfast option because oats are rich in fibre and if you add milk, this will boost your calcium intake. Avoid adding heaped teaspoons of sugar to add flavour and go for honey or berries instead.
3. Cheese: Christmas is a time when it’s fully acceptable to stock up on a wide range of cheeses and create a savoury feast to graze on after dinner. Cheese is good for your teeth because it is an excellent source of calcium and it has a high pH value, which can help to neutralise acids in your mouth.
4. Vegetables: the turkey and pigs and blankets may be the stars of the Christmas dinner show, but don’t forget to pile your plate high with delicious vegetables. Vegetables like broccoli, sprouts and cabbage are rich in fibre and carrots are an excellent source of vitamins A, B6 and K.