By Dr Grant McAree BDS BSc (Hons) @ Of The Whyte House Dental Practice.

HERE are Dr Grant's top tips for taking care of your teeth over the festive period:

1. Go steady on sweet things: Grazing on sweets and sugary snacks leaves the teeth constantly under attack from plaque acid. Believe it or not, for your teeth's sake, if you're going to eat sweets, you're actually better off eating them all in one go! It's not the amount of sugar, it's the total number of sugar hits per day that's the problem. Switch to cheese, nuts and vegetables for a more tooth-friendly nibble.

2. Protect your teeth: Your teeth are for eating, not for opening packaging, cutting sticky tape or cracking open nuts! Natural teeth, crowns or veneers can easily be chipped or broken. So reach for the scissors or a knife instead.

3. Avoid teeth-staining drinks: Dark-coloured or pigmented drinks, such as red wine, tea, coffee, cranberry juice and cola, can all stain teeth over time. Think what they do to your clothes or carpet if you spill them! Using a straw with cold drinks can help minimise the impact on enamel.

4. Choose the right lipstick: Did you know that certain lipstick shades can actually make your teeth look whiter? If your teeth are stained or yellowish, go for nude or pink lipsticks with bluish undertones, such as raspberry, and avoid dark or orangey shades as well as super-shiny glosses, which will merely exaggerate the problem. If you have greyish teeth, try nude pinks with an almost brownish hue and avoid red lipsticks with blue undertones.

5. Add some sparkle: Silver-coloured jewellery and clear crystals, like fake or real diamonds, highlight the white accents in your teeth. Conversely, gold-coloured jewellery can accentuate any yellowish tones.

6. Be ready for the mistletoe: For fresh breath and a kissable mouth, be sure to brush your teeth for two minutes twice a day, floss, use mouthwash and avoid strong-smelling foods such as garlic and curry. Remember that bad breath is generally caused by bacteria breaking down plaque and food debris in the mouth, especially between teeth where your brush can't reach. If you can't clean your teeth, swill your mouth with water. Chewing sugar-free gum can also help.

7. If in doubt, smile: When it comes to creating a good impression and also great photos, a smile can make all the difference. So, what are you waiting for?