Treats to watch out for at Christmas

The month of December tends to be a busy one, schedules full of important to-do lists, gift shopping and of course holiday parties. We all know that with the festive season comes lots of cheer and plenty of treats so some of us will put our diets on hold and indulge in those once a year goodies. Here is a list of our favourite holiday treats.

Pavlova

An Australian icon in desserts the Pavlova is a delightful mix of meringue, cream and fruits and is a perfect dessert for the summer time.

Trifle

Deliciously layered with jelly, fruits, sponge cake and topped with whipped cream. Trifle is a classic holiday treat.

Christmas Pudding

Sometimes known as a plum pudding, this christmas treat is a an eclectic mix of delicious dried fruits, spices and is sometimes moistened with fruit juices beer or brandy. This can be topped off with a generous pouring of cream or custard.

While enjoying the delicious holiday food on offer, it’s important to remember that many of these desserts are high in sugar including natural sugars and acids (if they include fruit).

Here are some good oral hygiene tips to keep in mind some during the holiday period.

Drink plenty of water - especially if you have just eaten, this will help rinse your mouth and dilute the sugars and acids.

Set a limit - If you feel you are likely to overindulge during a party, set yourself a limit. If you go in with a game plan beforehand you’ll have better success with maintaining that limit. For Example “I will only eat one plate of food and one dessert for my upcoming family BBQ.”

Floss - You can purchase small packets of floss to carry around in your pocket or purse. Flossing after a meal will help get rid of food from those hard to reach places.

Mouthwash - Use mouthwash after a party or when you have finished eating. Mouthwash helps fight against plaque and freshen your breath.