Keeping Your Smile Safe This Christmas and Boxing Day

The festive period is meant to be full of family, fun and indulgent food, but it is also a peak time for accidents and dental emergencies. Many general dental surgeries close over Christmas, leaving people scrambling to find help when they break a tooth on a toffee, lose a crown or wake up with a raging toothache. Damira Dental Studios operates a network of practices across the UK, and we believe no‑one should suffer through the holidays. That’s why many of our locations offer private emergency dental appointments during the festive season.

Why do dental emergencies spike over Christmas?

The festive season can be rough on teeth for a few different reasons:

• Closed practices and reduced services – A study of more than 11,000 emergency patients found a clear increase in people seeking urgent dental care during the Easter and Christmas holidays, partly because many high‑street surgeries take a break.
• More accidents and injuries – RoSPA reports that over 80,000 people end up in A&E each year for Christmas‑related accidents such as falls, burns or kitchen mishaps. The same conditions can easily result in chipped or knocked‑out teeth.
• Hard and sticky festive food – Nuts, toffees, crackling and other seasonal treats can crack or chip teeth, while sticky puddings can dislodge crowns or fillings. Extra sugar and alcohol can also encourage cavities and impair co‑ordination.

Together, these factors create a perfect storm. Our clinicians see first‑hand how easily a festive gathering can turn into a dental disaster.

What counts as a dental emergency?

A dental emergency is any situation that needs prompt attention to relieve pain, stop bleeding or save a tooth. Severe toothache that won’t settle, broken or knocked‑out teeth from festive games, lost fillings or crowns pulled out by sticky puddings, and painful swelling from infections all fall into this category. For instance, a knocked‑out tooth has the best chance of being saved if it is reinserted within an hour.

If you’re not sure whether your problem counts as an emergency, call us for advice. Our clinicians will let you know if you need an urgent appointment or if it can wait until regular hours.

Reducing the risk of a festive dental emergency

Preventive care can dramatically reduce your chances of an unwelcome visit to the dentist. A quick check‑up before the holidays allows your dentist to fix loose crowns or small cavities before they turn into crises. When you’re enjoying Christmas dinner, crack nuts with a nutcracker rather than your teeth and take care with hard or sticky foods. Maintaining good oral hygiene – brushing twice a day, flossing and rinsing after sugary treats – helps keep decay at bay. Finally, use the proper tools to open bottles or packaging and pace your alcohol consumption to avoid accidents and dry mouth.

What to do if you have a dental emergency on Boxing Day

If you find yourself in pain or have damaged a tooth over the holidays, please contact your nearest Damira practice straight away. Many of our clinics reserve emergency slots over the festive period and can advise you on the best next steps. In general, it helps to preserve any broken tooth pieces and keep a knocked‑out tooth moist, but always ask a dentist for guidance. Over‑the‑counter pain relief may ease discomfort for the journey, and any swelling or difficulty breathing warrants immediate medical attention. This blog does not constitute clinical advice – every situation is unique, so it is important to consult a dentist for accurate instructions.

Why choose Damira Dental Studios for emergency care?

Across Damira Dental Studios, we are proud to offer:

• Special holiday hours – several of our practices offer pre‑booked private emergency appointments over the Christmas period when many other surgeries are closed.
• Experienced, gentle clinicians – our teams regularly handle dental emergencies and will clearly explain your options and fees.
• Modern facilities and convenient locations – all of our clinics are equipped with digital X‑rays and up‑to‑date sterilisation equipment, and many have accessible parking.

Festive opening times: Maidenhead practice

While most Damira locations close on Christmas Day, our Maidenhead practice in Berkshire will be open for pre‑booked and on the day private emergency appointments on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day. If you are in the Maidenhead area and experience a dental emergency during the holidays, please call the practice on 07843 883000 to book your appointment. Other Damira practices operate different holiday schedules, so we recommend visiting our website or contacting your local practice to find out their opening times.

How to book your emergency appointment

To ensure availability during the holidays, we recommend calling your nearest Damira practice as soon as you experience a problem. Our friendly reception teams will triage your issue and arrange the most appropriate appointment. Practice opening times vary, so please visit our website for details. If you are in Berkshire, our Maidenhead contact page provides information about its Christmas Eve and Boxing Day opening hours.

Although we hope you won’t need us, Damira Dental Studios is here to provide peace of mind over the festive season. Save our number now so that if the unexpected happens, you know exactly who to call. Wishing all our patients a safe, joyful Christmas – and remember, our Maidenhead team has your smile covered this Boxing Day!